# What is up with African American names **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402 "2002-12-13T02:30:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/101 "2002-12-14T13:00:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tarpal \* > I am none of the above and I am certainly not ashamed of anything. I am simply a realist and an astute businessman. Oh and before anyone wastes the board’s time trotting out the tired old “you beez a racist” :rolleyes: , don’t bother. I won’t slink away terrified of the label, nor will I attempt to mollify you with panicky apologies, denials or bleatings that we “celebrate diversity”, as so much of white corporate america has been taught to do. I do my job as I see fit and am not in the least bit afraid of Jesse Jackson-esqe racial blackmailing and shakedown schemes. 😃 So, um, **Tarpal** , what do you think when you see a name like “Rivkah Feinstein” or “Aaron Goldberg”? Do you steer them to the accounting department because their people have a reputation for being good with numbers and money? What do you think of an Ivan Romanevich or Renata Kowalski? A Maria Gonzales or Jose Fernandez? Are they OK based on their names, or do they get buried, too? How about a Ali Mohammad or Hammad Al-Habib? Do you trash their resumes because they _might_ be terrorists? (If my large and internationally well-known company went by that standard we’d be missing 1/3 of the accounting department in our Chicago office) What about Hiroko Muramata? Do you assume she will be a “team player” based on her name? How about someone with a last name of Nguyen? Or Cheung? Please do tell, I’m curious. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/102 "2002-12-14T16:09:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tarpal \* > \*\*I recall a few years back reading about a black mother who’d just given birth. The nurses begged her to no avail not to name her daughter…“Vagina”. \*\* This story would smack of a Snopsing, but I can top it -FIRST HAND. My wife teaches. She had a girl enter her class quite a few years ago. This girls’ name was \*\* BAGINA\*\*. My wife pronounced it on the first day as " Bageeena ", believing that it was the logical choice, given the alternative. This sweet little kid piped right up with, > [@](#): > > Oh no, Mrs. Toonsy, my parents call me **BA- GYE- NAH** My wife simply refused. This is 3rd grade, this child is already the object of intense verbal abuse that is hidden by USING her own name. So, you tell me…what in the heck were this child’s parents thinking, using a name with that spelling and enforcing THAT pronounciation??? Forget white. Forget American. Forget the argument about ‘normal and exotic’. This child was for all intents and purposes named after the female genitalia. I’m waiting to see where the ethnic pride is in all of this one. I met this child, this is a first-hand tale folks. I watched her stand on a stage and sing in the chorus. Mystifying. To me, it’s passive-agressive child abuse. ☹ Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/103 "2002-12-14T16:13:49Z")
That’ll teach me to Preview but not read up. **Broomstick**??? Word. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/104 "2002-12-14T17:02:48Z")
Here’s the meat to a longer joke I won’t tell. It’s about generational changes to a family name. In reverse chronological order… 5th Generation: Maurice Lafontaine 3rd Generation: Morris Spritzwasser \< event: Immigration to America \> 1st Generation: Moishe the Pischer ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/105 "2002-12-15T10:44:32Z")
My mom, thoroughly caucasion, was named at birth Beatrice Henspeter. To hear her tell the story, the first thing she did upon turning 18 was to change her name to Catherine Peters. She was really sick of being called Beet-rice and all the various lewd incarnations of Henspeter. Myself, I was named Kent at birth, despite the protestations of my older brother & sister. Kent is too easily associated with Kent cigarettes. That’s not so bad, but Kent is also very easily repronounced as cunt, which was the name given me by my classmates throughout most of my school years. It wasn’t just the occasional “bad name”. It was my main name. You think I didn’t have to try harder to fit in and get called my real name? In TV & movies, how many “Kents” have been portrayed in a positive light? Not many. And don’t EVEN mention the Clark Kent thing, without giving me $.05. I don’t give a crap what you’re thinking when you name your kids. Give them a normal name & they’ll have at least a slightly easier life. Who cares what you think? Think about your kids & what they’re going to have to go through. I could proudly name my kid Dipshiteesha. You think he wouldn’t grow up catching a lot of hell? He would. Might I suggest you keep all your cultural, political & ethnic ideals in check when selecting your kid’s name? You name your kids something funky according to the society they’re growing up in, _they_ are the ones who are going to have to live with it. If you really want to give your kid a funky sounding & hard to spell name, make it their middle name at least. I’ve got two middle names, and I ain’t even gonna tell you what they are. I know a lot of Chinese with unpronouncable names who regulary adopt normal sounding western type names when they come to the West. It makes life easier. So what? ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/106 "2002-12-15T15:06:37Z")
good morning friends, a man i have known most of my life legally changed his name from “Richard” to “Mister Forty Niner” ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/107 "2002-12-15T16:36:34Z")
A propos “Latrina”: In college I was always interested in international students. Once, when meeting the new crop of incoming Finns, I asked one if his name meant anything in Finnish. I cant remember the name now, but he said “well, its actually a slang word for ‘toilet’”. I said “Hey, me too! Im John!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ILENSER](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@ILENSER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILENSER)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/108 "2002-12-15T17:42:57Z")
My apologies but all your names seem strange to me. Thank you, Apha3770.2 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/109 "2002-12-15T22:38:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tarpal \* > \*\*I am none of the above and I am certainly not ashamed of anything. I am simply a realist and an astute businessman. Oh and before anyone wastes the board’s time trotting out the tired old “you beez a racist” :rolleyes: , don’t bother. I won’t slink away terrified of the label, nor will I attempt to mollify you with panicky apologies, denials or bleatings that we “celebrate diversity”, as so much of white corporate america has been taught to do. I do my job as I see fit and am not in the least bit afraid of Jesse Jackson-esqe racial blackmailing and shakedown schemes. 😃 \*\* _snerk_ In that case, Mister Astute Businessman, I offer you a challenge. Call your state’s Labor Board, give them your name and the name of your company, and describe to them your screening process exactly as you’ve described it here. Since you are so certain that your astute business practices are neither racist, classist, nor illegal, I’m sure you’d love the opportunity to have that verified by the people who would know best. Do let us know how it turns out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/110 "2002-12-16T00:47:42Z")
**ACK!** Don’t _do_ that! Be more careful resurrecting old threads that has a Mark Serlin sockpuppet posting in them. For a minute there I thought the fataphobic “scientist” was back. Whew! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/111 "2002-12-16T08:32:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > \*\*Well, no, Tarpal’s point was that the report linked to earlier showed that certain names perhaps reflect on the individual’s mother’s socioeconomic status (The whole “poor and lower-class women are more likely to give their children unusual names”). He then makes a whole bunch of assumptions based on that, which are unwarranted. \*\* But what difference does it make how an applicant’s **mother** was educated? LaQuerty Jones might have put in 110% effort all through high school, college, and a graduate program, at the urging of her mother **who wanted her daughter to have more and better opportunities than she did.** All that sacrifice just to have **tarpal** turn up his pointy little nose. I mean, do you **really** do that, **tarpal**? You don’t **ever** check for qualifications after you see a name you don’t like? What kind of positions are people applying for when they send their resume to you? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/112 "2002-12-16T08:34:26Z")
**Ruffian** , this thread’s not resurrected. It was started on 12/12/02. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/113 "2002-12-16T09:23:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\*Lots of white Southern Baptists have funny names too. How about Elvis? Where did that come from? It isn’t from Europe; it’s just a couple of made-up syllables. > \*\* Not so fast there. Although the meaning of the name Elvis is unknown, it is possibly a form of the first names _Alvis_ or _Elwin_, or it might be derived from the surname _Elwes_. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/114 "2002-12-16T11:21:50Z")
I had a friend named “Elvys.” He was much older than Elvis Presley, and was not southern by birth. He was not a Southern Baptist, either. Explain that, **Jomo.** ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/115 "2002-12-16T14:21:30Z")
Well I’m a big turd. Thanks **Rilch** –there was a thread of similar title resurrected here in GQ that had RainbowCSR in it. I went back to post after searching and making sure he wasn’t active–and checking to see th OPs date–but I went back to the wrong thread. :eek: [Gilda Radner]Never mind![/Gilda Radner] ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/116 "2002-12-16T14:32:39Z")
How is this a uniquely black thing? Common names American WHITES now give their babies include such ridiculous monikers as: Madison Mackenzie Austin Destiny Haley/Hailey/Halley/Halie Makayla/Michaela Trinity In the United States in 2001, more than 25,000 baby girls were named after made-up names from popular movies (“Madison” from _Splash_, and “Trinity” from _The Matrix._) Those babies were, in the vast majority, white. Almost 4000 baby boys were given the horrific name “Dakota.” How are “Madison” and “Trinity” any less stupid than “Laqesha”? At least “Laqesha” isn’t taken off a crappy Ron Howard flick. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/117 "2002-12-16T14:38:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary T \* > \*\*I remember that being “ **gooble** gobble” rather than “gobble gobble.” \*\* _I_ thought it was “Gooba-gobba” 😕 ---
**Author:** ![tarpal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@tarpal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarpal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/118 "2002-12-16T15:38:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kaio \* > **Since you are so certain that your astute business practices are neither racist, classist, nor illegal, I’m sure you’d love the opportunity to have that verified by the people who would know best.** When did I ever state that we are “certain that our astute business practices are neither racist, classist, nor illegal”? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/119 "2002-12-16T15:42:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tarpal \* > \*\*When did I ever state that we are “certain that our astute business practices are neither racist, classist, nor illegal”? \*\* Now that is sad.☹ ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402/120 "2002-12-16T15:43:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tarpal \* > \*\*When did I ever state that we are “certain that our astute business practices are neither racist, classist, nor illegal”? \*\* So is it that you’re admitting that they are? If so, doesn’t that bother you? Or do you consider yourself and/or your company to be above the law? And if you do, do you believe that that’s because the law has no right to determine what you do, i.e. discriminate against people because of superficial characteristics such as names, whether or not they are actually indicative of socioeconomic background and/or race? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-african-american-names/142402.md?page=7)