Why I Was Fired
I am an artist. I was redoing graphics for a board game, remotely, from my home in Georgia. My supervisor wanted the entire cast of characters to be white, despite my ideas for diversity. I begged him to reconsider and asked if this was a board game "exclusively for white folks."
He was offended by the comment and terminated me the same day, then blocked my email. I walked away with the half-up-front payment outlined in my usual terms, but ultimately came up short as I was almost done with the project and never received compensation for the extra work I'd done.
What Being Fired Has Been Like
It's hard getting up and not having something to do. Days are empty. I have lost a very great relationship with a client and reference. This is the second time this has happened, so I'm questioning whether I should bite the bullet next time for money's sake. I am a 19-year-old college student with no way to pay rent. I have extensive experience in corporate design, especially for my age, but will most likely be working at Starbucks for the next few years. My dignity as an artist and worker has been shattered. My outlook on careers now is that the employer is doing a public service by giving me a job, instead of me providing an experienced aesthetic towards the benefit of their company.
Advice
- Stand up for your moral convictions, but be prepared for the consequences.
- If you're an artist, pursue personal projects. The creative release will help.
- Don't cater yourself to anyone. They'll get the idea they're doing you a favor, instead of the other way around.
- Seek out friends and family who sympathize.
- Always get it in writing.
