What's in a Name?

Posted by~ Sheldon Redditt on September 14, 2014

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." ~William Shakespeare ~ But with a name like Sha'Nay Nay, no one is gonna think that child smells so sweet.  What are we doing to our kids? Are we giving them a fighting chance? I think not!  So, you think you should be able to name them whatever you want? Yes, you should, but My God, we are handicapping them the moment they take their first breath.  So am I saying name them a  "white name"? No, I didn't say that, but name them something someone can spell and pronounce.  Name them something that each school year, their teacher isn't shaking their head when they get their new roll call, thinking, "man, I'm in for it this year"!  So, we've established racism exists and many would say this is another way to be controlled. But, I beg to differ. I have been in the education field and sat around with other Black educators and WE were the ones shaking our heads! How many times have you been a part of a conversation that went something like this, "No their Momma didn't! No the hell they didn't! Here comes little bad ass... This is gonna be my problem child." How many times have you heard a name over the loud speaker at a fast food restaurant and drove up to the window, only for you to think that their attitude matched their name?

How are we gonna prepare our kids for success when most people can't pronounce, let alone, spell their names.  And then the kids have the audacity to have an attitude when you can't pronounce their 50 syllable name!  But, in actuality it's not their fault, it's their parents. One would automatically assume that their parents are uneducated as well and that may not be the case.  But, why give someone the ammunition to assume so.

We now say in corporate America this is the new way to discriminate against applicants.  That may be so, but if you know that, why would you give yours kids names that won't even get them in the door for a interview?  Recently, a friend of mine said, that a person told her that her kids names were too boring and that they needed names that are black and unique. She explained to the lady that she gave all of her kids names that she loved and that her kids wouldn't have to explain later on in life. Again, there is nothing wrong with naming your kids so called black names.  But, with names like; Shaniqua, Rashanique, Obamaniqua and Guuuuuurrrrrrllllll (yes the last two are actual names) or Darterrius, Dallevante, Ze'darius and the list goes on and on, we should be embarrassed.  I know it sounds funny, but seriously, we all should want a better life for our children than we had. We don't want them to miss a great opportunity because we gave them a silly name. Just because Mercedes or Lexus is your favorite car, doesn't mean it's a good idea to name your kid that. 

When you know better, you should do better. Let's stop with these silly names and give our kids a chance.  When they interview for a job, instead of employers saying, "I'm not hiring a person with a name I can't pronounce."  Let's stop giving employers the opportunity to assume that with a name like that, they couldn't possibly be a team player.  So, I say to you, when you are thinking of names for your kids think about how it may affect them their entire life. You only get one name,  so make it a good one. This is my truth. What is yours?

Artwork by ~ Amy Redditt