I just read a snippet of a discussion, online, regarding "Black" names like Shaniqua and Alize.
I have reached a point in my life where I have met quite a few people of African descent with such names who or are career executives, college graduates, extremely sharp, and well rounded so I think its a non-issue. I think there are probably hundreds of thousands of Americans with these names and there is nothing we can do and we should stop harrassing these people and ridiculing them. What are you gonna do? Rename them and provide new birth certificates? Is it that serious?
I have a very "normal" name according to our society, probably because many White people have my name and its European based. I don't think someone in my situation should ever feel like we are better than those with uncommon, unique, even strange names. Despite my name, I do know what it's like to be ridiculed for things I have no control over and its not fair.
I do understand that some names are questionable but that is to the fault of the parents and even then you have to question the root behind it. For instance children that are named after liquor like Alize, etc. However, some might think someone named Mercedes is named after a luxury car but the name Mercedes was around before the car so you really have to know what's up before you judge.
And alot of those unique "Black" names may not be African names but are derived from African names but the parents made it their own. You have to understand that African Americans were stripped of their names during slavery and were made to adopt the names of the slaveowners. So in the 60's and beyond many African Americans took it upon themselves to give their children names that were rooted back in Africa but with a fresh twist whether it be spelling or linking African names with other names to create something unique. Some have common endings such as -esha and -niqua and I say who cares...pay attention to the personality and the person and the name will warm up to you.
Like I said, there are hundreds of thousands of people with these names and their is nothing you can do about it so leave them alone. Its just a name.
Since we Americans love the works of Shakespeare so much, let's listen to what he wrote and actually practice it:
From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1594:
JULIET:
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.
Until then...
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/08/25/creative_black_names/index.html
http://curbed.com/tags/pomander-walk
