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I know plenty of kids of all races with traditional names such as Aiden, Karen, Monica, Jonathan, Michael, Erik, Sofia, Sebastian etc. These names are not necessarily white or black. Why label your child?
Cristy Austin, of Kansas City, Missouri, thought she was giving her baby a gift when she named her Keisha 19 years ago. She wanted her daughter, who is biracial, to feel empowered and connected to her African American roots. "I saw it as a source of pride," she told the Kansas City Star. Instead, her daughter found it to be a burden. Last week, after years of racially charged teasing, Keisha legally became "Kylie."
SSDD...try to assimilate if you want to. Eventually when you show up in person and they realize that Kylie is black/biracial it's going to be the same old story. Racist people are going to be racist regardless of what your name is. That is just who they are.
I have a "white girl name" and I speak proper English without a Bronx/NY accent. The looks of shock and disgust I have encountered in my life when my black self has the nerve to show up somewhere I'm not supposed to be has reduced my faith in humanity to zero.
I have experienced this as well.
People always tell me "you sound different on the phone." When I show up. I kind of like having the name I do an having what I call an "excellent" phone voice. I don't know if it (my name) has given me any benefits in the job market, but I remember reading about a lady who changed the name on her resume and marked herself as "white" on monster.com and how she got a ton of call backs after she had been trying to get a job for months using her "black" name. That person didn't show up for the interviews. I would have and if they wouldn't have interviewed me I would have sued them because I'm just like that and wouldn't take that mess.
And like another poster mentioned, I don't even consider Keisha a "black name." I knew a white "Kisha" growing up, pronounced the same. I knew 2 white Chante's (one was spelled differently, but pronounced Shan-Tay). The most popular names in my era were Jennifer and Heather and I knew a ton of black and white Jenny's and Heather's. I was so happy I was not one of them. Amanda and Amber were popular too.
All of my brothers and sisters have rather traditional names due to being named after family members. FWIW, my grandmother's name was Florence and she hated it, she was named after her grandmother. I considered naming my daughter Florence, but didn't because my grandmother hated it so much lol. I know a lady now in her 60s who is named "Mamie" and she really hates it. She was named after her grandmother and considers it "an old lady's name." LOL even though she is nearly 70 years old.
I know plenty of kids of all races with traditional names such as Aiden, Karen, Monica, Jonathan, Michael, Erik, Sofia, Sebastian etc. These names are not necessarily white or black. Why label your child?
It isn't just a problem with names associated with race. I have a student whose parents lovingly named her Treasure. By the time she hit middle school she insisted on being called Terri and wouldn't turn in anything with her real name on it, which caused quite a ruckus come state standardized testing time. I could see her legally changing her name at some point.
I agree. It is far from just a race thing. People naming their kids odd names like Apple and Treasure are just not thinking. It is cute when they are babies but after that it's not very practical.
It isn't just a problem with names associated with race. I have a student whose parents lovingly named her Treasure. By the time she hit middle school she insisted on being called Terri and wouldn't turn in anything with her real name on it, which caused quite a ruckus come state standardized testing time. I could see her legally changing her name at some point.
Cristy Austin, of Kansas City, Missouri, thought she was giving her baby a gift when she named her Keisha 19 years ago. She wanted her daughter, who is biracial, to feel empowered and connected to her African American roots. "I saw it as a source of pride," she told the Kansas City Star. Instead, her daughter found it to be a burden. Last week, after years of racially charged teasing, Keisha legally became "Kylie."
I can't blame Kylie. Some names just suck. Too, she doesn't look 'Black" to me. More like Irish and Cherokee.
Keisha is the name of a well known Porn Star, who is now in her 40s. I remember her from years ago, she has two websites. So , that might be another reason to change your name ? ( O' she is Jewish I think, maybe not ).
I can't blame Kylie. Some names just suck. Too, she doesn't look 'Black" to me. More like Irish and Cherokee.
No names don't suck. People just suck. And this is just a sad story.
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