What in the name?
Chapter 6 talked about the relationship between a child’s name and his character. As it turned out a child’s name and his character does not have a cause and effect relationship. It just so happen that a child’s name is often a reflection of the type of parents he has. I think this is especially true because a smart parent would know that it would be less of a hassle to give a child a name that is perceive well in the real world. For example if a child is already black, I don’t need to add an extra struggle to him by giving him a name that can be discriminated against. Although it is wrong for people to discriminate against a person based on names and color, but I don’t think discrimination as an issue should be a child’s bottle. Being a victim of discrimination at a young age could have long lasting psychological impact on a person (e.g. the person might grow up to be a bitter person which could further worsen his condition). I think it’s best for a parent to try to protect a child’s happiness for as long as possible. I am not saying that African Americans should not take on black names as a way to pride their African heritage, I’m merely saying that perhaps parents should leave it up to a child to change his name to an African sounding name when he become older and better equip to deal with discrimination.
Let’s face it discrimination is not going anywhere anytime soon. I think it’s important to try to get around it as much as fighting it. One had to be intelligent. A person’s well being should be placed before his pride. Therefore, People have to remember, they have to fight for their well beings too. It’s not all about pride.
4 comments:
I agree, it sucks that its a hassle for a child to have an uncommon name and thus be discriminated against for it. But I don't think that its common for a child to be thinking about changing there name as he/she grows up. Its a big decision to name a child; I think that if I had a child right now I would want to give him/her a unique name, but it would have to be pronounced and spelled easily.
I agree with your comment that they shouldn't get rid of their African heritage and their names, however I don't think some of these parent are even considering their heritage when they name their child shithead. Now I'm not an expert or anything about African heritage and names but I find it hard to believe that name had any African in it. I was listening to the radio the other day and they were talking about one of their nieces who was just born and the parents named her guinea pig. I feel like some of these names are getting out of control and if you want your child to have a better chance people need to calm down with the names they are choosing.
In my family, it is tradition for your first born son to be named after you. After this, the other kids are named after members of your family whom you admire or are very close to. so names are highly recycled in our family and it is fascinating to see the kids grow up and be compared to their namesakes. the more successful and popular you are, the more your name repeats. Shamefully,I have to boast that to date I have more than 10 repeats of my name.......
Naming a child is tough work and for the most part is irreversable until the child turns 18. The book, in my opinion, goes overboard in relating certain names to the topic at hand. In my family, just like Pauls, it is tradition to recycle names due to success or admiration. If parents choose a new name to bring to the family heritage, i feel a lot of thought should go into it. This includes looking up the meaning of the name as well.
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