It’s great to be back UI after a long hiatus from all social media. My posts may make you mad, but hopefully cause a real discussion on the subject. The next part of my calculated meal that I have been feeding you has to do with ethnic, and made up names. I know people have their own individuality, and voice… However In the world of professionals, government, and more conservative forms of life, does an overly ethnic or made up names give minorities a disadvantage in this world. Personally, I don’t exactly agree with the parents who do this. In this world you need to offer your child every opportunity afforded to them. Most minorities are already at a disadvantage for people in power choose to have their “own” in the positions right alongside them. Minorities do not look as they do, so advancing to that point will be harder and more of an uphill climb. Most have to fight the stereotypes and other misconceptions of a given race of people. So why are we giving our children a weighted back pack to climb the mountain with? I am aware of the argument that “People should accept our culture, and we as a people… As is… nothing more, nothing less.” Okay… I get that. However that is not the way that society works. So what? Will you sacrifice the life of your child and who people will perceive them to be simply because of you and your own revolutionary visions? I call that as unfair and unjust. Robbing them of developing their own sense of self is horrible. You can also say that “It shouldn’t be this way and things need t change.” Well guess what… they haven’t… And they won’t. As long as certain people have certain names and play into the stereotypes of people with said names, people will always be judged harshly for their name. I know many people who were forced to change their names so that they could advance in their careers. Yes it’s sad that they had to do this, but it was truly the only way they could even be taken seriously. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not just minorities. Whites also go through the same thing. However considering the ratio of minorities with odd names, to those who are not, keeps certain ways of life and conducting business in place. What we as people want to chance will not unless we make the decision that our children will be taken seriously and not prejudged… Simply because of a name. Alight intellectuals… Let’s go.
The best way to fight an alien culture is with your own. Our conceptions of the odd were formulated by our “odd” cultural oppressors. We can’t be truly free if we accept another people’s definition of ourselves. We live in fear of reprehension from invisible and visible factors; from systematic alienation and personal alienation. It is a brave and revolutionary thing to chose to name yourself when the name you have and the identity you have was formed in the cataclysm of cultures fighting for dominance, and yours/ours is on the losing side. There is something powerful in daring to be yourself. In a world that seeks to define how you walk, talk, act, think, pray and fight, it is a liberating act to say no and simply grab the reigns of your life and destiny. Historically, those “minorities” (we are not minorities by the way, globally speaking) who came here with “odd” sounding names were treated better than those who were deemed “just Negro” or my favorite “regular Black.” White people can get dreadlocks, have odd names from Eastern Europe and dress funny, but they are rarely the butt of the oppressive glare that seeks to stifle their individuality. They can culturally appropriate our culture and get paid for it, while we must cower in fear of embracing ours. If we dared to be ourselves, embrace our culture, and define ourselves rather than live in accordance with given pre-packaged definitions that would be one huge step towards liberation from mental slavery. We can’t keep up the status quo in an attempt to undermine it, that is either extremely difficult or damn near impossible.
Hmmm… Interesting. You make mention of Our culture. That’s an almost hypocritical statement. Our culture does not consist of names that are made up, nor are most of the things that blacks consume today. The phenomenon of “our culture” is one that has been force fed to us by media and stereotypes that we have been labeled with throughout the years. The sad thing is, we truly have no culture, at least not as Black Americans. We have either had to create our own or adopt African culture. Don’t get me wrong your point is extremely valid… But my question still stands. Do you believe that a parent has given their child the best possible chance at life with a name that does not allow a person to move in today’s society as a respected individual?
Everything from our name to our language is foreign, you are right in saying that we had to fashion a new culture but that doesn’t mean that OUR original culture was lost in the process. Everything from our dance, speech, religious practice, all has Africanisms, amalgamated with American culture. We are as much African as we are American and other cultures, that is what makes us unique. However, it has been our African culture that has been ridiculed and suppressed and re-claiming that with pride is not wrong and shoot, even if you choose to create your own name for yourself that is a powerful thing in a society that seeks to define you from birth, according to its Euro-American racist standards. I think it is misleading to think that a name will somehow drastically change the life expectancy or chances of your child. You can be Charles William Worthsworh IV living in the projects…Who determines who gets respected? Has this society respected us despite our profession of ALL its ridiculous standards? We adopted Christianity, changed our names, fought in their wars, and now we must continue to use White America as a yardstick for acceptance?? The most xenophobic culture known to man? Sorry brother, I hear where you are coming from because people with “black sounding” names get less call backs from jobs, but so what happens when you interview? Should you change your speech? What happens when you go in person? Send your white friend or bleach your skin? I think this is a very slippery slope argument and assimilationist, no offense.
None taken. The thing is, that’s just not the way the world works. Other cultures are not simply accepted just because. We can talk about what should and shouldn’t be until we are blue in the face. However, the bottom line is, with certain names come negative connotations. The hitler family had to change thier names for it just did not have the best reputation. The name Castro has also been blacklisted among many americans. You speak of assimilation… Well, sometimes its required. I see people complain to no end about mexicans and how they cannot speak english but yet to live in this country. The same goes for us. If we ae going to live in america and consume all that it has to offer… Then we have to be Americans and adapt to american society. Now that we have established that… Have we given our children the best chance at making it in life with names that may not be agreeable with American culture?