Quote:
Originally Posted by EuSchel
My name ends in the famous 'isha' and I think that we as a people have to work together to let people know that our names do not always reflect us. Just because my name ends in 'isha' does not mean I'm ghetto, or not a hard-work or whatever. I know girls and guys with what would be considered not ethnic names who are exactly what majority of employers are trying to avoid hiring. ....
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I agree, but I think we have a generational gap developing here that is adding to the problem. Many of us have traditional "ethnic" names that were given us by educated and socially conscious parents. Whether our parents were simply pro-Black or pan-African in their youth, they gave us names with meanings – meanings they knew and understood the history and origin of. Those names were beautiful and, though “ethnic”, they were spelled properly and were usually pronounceable.
Since that time, though, we’ve seen these ‘traditional’ ethnic names replaced by 'new school' names, names of vehicles, fashion houses, alcoholic beverages, and made-up words from rap songs or slang. I know this is an old thread, but in addition to this, some parents are now giving their children grossly misspelled traditional Afro-American and European names (including basic English words).
Is this going to hurt their employment prospects? Unfortunately, I can't see how it wouldn't. Employers know 'our' names, but they don't know "Choclit".
