Stupid "black" names...why?

[Nyoibo]

Names like Le-a?

The snopes article on the name offes up some amusing alternatives.

[joe hx]

It's actually spelt Electra, and the story is about a woman who hates her mother and loves her father. Great, name her brother Oedipus while you're at it. ^^

Actually I think it's spelled "Ἠλέκτρα" /end smart ass mode

Back people in America have been giving themselves unique names since the end of legal slavery. At first it was very simple, like "Freeman" - a la "Morgan Freeman" or even names of popular political figures ("George Washington").

As the article says, around the sixties they (I really hate referring to groups as "they") wanted more African-sounding names. I believe at this time it was actually the more educated, liberal blacks that sought this change. The problem is "Africa" isn't a country. (Sorry President Bush - unless you where thinking where Uhura was born?)

If you've ever looked around genealogy forums, a lot of black genealogists believe there is no way to track their heritage beyond 1863 or whenever. Sadly (or thankfully) this isn't true - slave owners tended to be rich plantation owners, who really liked to keep records. Especially when they have slaves always trying to escape. And today, thanks to DNA genealogy, it's even easier to place one's African ancestry (even if your "African" ancestry is England because if you need more slaves, you have to breed them! And that's the story I'm sticking with to the missus. I'm not in love with this beautiful negro house slave, the only one I don't mistreat!)

Anyways, believing they have no way to track a specific ancestry, they made a hodge-podge of various African-sounding names. (I guess all the apostrophe's are the clicks?)

Crap, I guess I didn't completely exit smart-ass mode. As far as naming my kids, I want to give them a "normal" first name and then a "weird" middle name. Then they can use either one, and they won't even have to go court to get the name changed!

(I like the name "William Zenos" he's actually an ancestor who fought in the Civil War)

[Boozy]

And just report topics if you think they are actually racist.

We don't prohibit discussions about racism here, nor do we usually moderate comments that can be considered racist. Those are considered fair game for debate.

Providing information about how the board is moderated is the job of the moderators.

If you've seen some posts that you think step over the line into personal attacks, report those.

[Ree]

The snopes article on the name offes up some amusing alternatives.

This one was interesting as well.
It actually touches on the racism aspect.

[daleduke17]

Heh. The Tanika I'm talking about is actually named Tanika Washington. And she grew up around people with "black" names. Whereas my name is Shonika, and I grew up around the Madisons and Kellys.

(Out of curiosity) is it pronounced Shawn-ee-ka or Shown-ick-uh?

Either way is actually quite nice and not like the names we've been talking about.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Except, the people you're talking about generally want an African SOUNDING name for their child. They don't necessarily want a true African name, due to the reason I listed. They want something that's THEIRS. From what we've been told for centuries, Africa is not ours. We get shit for adopting the culture of an African country because we're not "really African." (I'm not even going to get into the clash between American Blacks and Black immigrants from Africa.) So we have names that aren't white and aren't fully African. Who are you or anyone else to call that ridiculous?

And, based on what you just said, my interpretation was not that far off. You're telling people to find "real" names for their children because a "made up" name is not acceptable to you.

Again, you're interpreting my opinion wrongly. I'm saying nothing of the sort; I'm just saying that if someone wants an African name, then why not use a real name rather than make one up? I personally wouldn't care if someone who was black wanted an African name, or even if someone white wanted one. Just that if they pick a name like Latrina, they're setting their kids up to be bullied.

Also, I believe I mentioned the fact that it's mainly chavs round my area who come up with the stupid names. They're all white. For example, the woman who came into my workplace with the little girl named Tangerine. I still can't get over the stupidity of that name. I mean, it's not exactly pretty, is it?

I'm childfree. However, I like Shakespearen names and Norse and Greek myth names. I still plan to get a cat one day and call him Loki. XD

[protege]

It could be much worse. Take my grandfather's name...Sharon. Seems that my great-grandmother really wanted a daughter, and was a bit pissed when he came out instead. Pissed enough, that she gave him that name. Of course, he hated it. Most people called him by his initials or his nickname "Bud" instead. Grandpa blew shit up during WWII, and would probably kick your ass if you called him "Sharon"

[Boozy]

Again, you're interpreting my opinion wrongly. I'm saying nothing of the sort; I'm just saying that if someone wants an African name, then why not use a real name rather than make one up?

I think KnitShoni explained the problems with that. Many Black Americans would not consider themselves "African", nor would they consider themselves white-bread Middle Americans.

Blacks in America have a culture all their own, and it's a relatively recent development. They had no links to their home country (most don't even know what African country their ancestors came from). They had no heart-warming links to their new country, either. So they started from square one.

[Lace Neil Singer]

It's still no reason to saddle a youngster with a ridiculous name. If they like the name so much, they can call themselves that. In any case, it's a lot different where I am; it's the white chavs that come up with all the stupid names. I understand that it's a different situation in America, but I'm not so sure that Knitshoni does. :/

[daleduke17]

I think KnitShoni explained the problems with that. Many Black Americans would not consider themselves "African", nor would they consider themselves white-bread Middle Americans.

Blacks in America have a culture all their own, and it's a relatively recent development. They had no links to their home country (most don't even know what African country their ancestors came from). They had no heart-warming links to their new country, either. So they started from square one.

Then why do they spend the time to call themselves African-American?

[Boozy]

I don't know that they do. I will gladly cede the point if I'm proven wrong, but I always saw the term "African-American" as an invention of the white media, rarely used in real life.

However, I'm Canadian, so naturally no one here uses that term. I have never heard anyone, in the media or elsewhere, say "African-Canadian".

[KnitShoni]

Then why do they spend the time to call themselves African-American?

You're operating under the assumption that all of us do. If we all did, all forms that ask you to identify race would only list African-American, not Black or African-American.

[KnitShoni]

It's still no reason to saddle a youngster with a ridiculous name. If they like the name so much, they can call themselves that. In any case, it's a lot different where I am; it's the white chavs that come up with all the stupid names. I understand that it's a different situation in America, but I'm not so sure that Knitshoni does. :/

It actually isn't all that different for white people, though. There are a lot of white people here with names that would be considered ridiculous. Geography is not a factor there.

[daleduke17]

You're operating under the assumption that all of us do. If we all did, all forms that ask you to identify race would only list African-American, not Black or African-American.

I'm just tired of trying to figure out which term is the "proper" one currently. Someone of the same color as Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones, are they Black, African-American, colored, negro (see note below) or a different term (not "the n word" of course)? With white folks, "white" "caucasian" and *-American are all pretty universal and accepted at anytime.

NOTE: I know negro is a pretty old, dated term that is almost never used anymore.

[IDrinkaRum]

I went to high school & community college with a chick named Babette. I would never in a million years name my daughter Babette. (Her family joked she was named after a French can-can dancer ). She was blond & blue-eyed. And yes, she's white trash or a "chav" as Lace would say.

I really wanted to call Child Rum Lavendar Blue. Everyone said no. *pouts*