I’ve been spelling my name wrong since 1995
My Father named me Sierra Chasity Annette King, my Mother taught me how to spell my name Sierra Chastity Annette King. You may notice the slight spelling difference between, one ‘T’ and two ‘T’s.
I came across this phenomenon of a difference when I went to get my drivers license at the ripe age of 22. The fact that I was getting my drivers license at 22, is another story for another day. As I’m looking for the needed documents, proof of residence, birth certificate and social security card, I notice something, Chastity was spelled like Chasity. I called my Mother immediately to dispute the matter.
“You mean to tell me all of my life, I have been defending those two T’s in my name and one of them doesn’t even exist.”
I vaguely remember her saying, “I guess so.” I felt betrayed, I felt like all I had known wasn’t true. I built my entire identity around Chastity having two Ts and the first being silent. My whole childhood was me explaining that you don’t pronounce the first T hard and to stop calling me CHAS-TITY.
I’ve know since then but didn’t take the time change over anything business/art related. I still signed my name with TWO Ts, my portfolio was still graced as “SierraChastity, artist and photographer. I basically have to uproot my entire online identity because of that first “silent T.”
As an artist, building your work around your name is something that people will begin to recognize. Like Van Goh, Picasso, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, for each of them you know exactly what their work looks like the moment someone says their name. I made the decision to rightfully change everything associated with my art to the correct spelling, it felt right.
One of my favorite artist Toyin Ojih Odutola, made a similar statement

“I’m just gonna keep posting this reminder until y’all understand. If Gael Garcia Bernal is known to have two surnames, this it’s not much of a stretch to comprehend that “OJIH” is not my middle name but the inclusion of my Igbo heritage with my Yoruba heritage,“ODUTOLA”. Please respect that. Thank you.”
As a person, a name is the beginning of your identity. It is the beginning of your first impression and how people address you going forward. I value the name and respecting people to the highest regard by calling them by their given name. Even so much that I will not accept any other version or a nickname.
A name can hold the weight of your cultural background or familial ties. To add to that weight living in a country, where it was not long ago, that names were taken away from Africans to dehumanize them and erase the culture that was brought along with them. I’d like to think that respect begins with addressing people as they see fit and taking the time out to learn pronunciations and correct spelling.
Your name is a bond that only you are given.
Now, put some respect on my name, it’s Sierra Chasity Annette King.
( When I get into the MoMa I’m sending them all 4, because it’s necessary )
Before you go tell me, “What significant change have you made in your life recently?”
