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I saw that special, and it disturbed me. (Well, that's the nice way of saying it.) I have one of those names that lots of Black parents thought was so cool in the '70s; it has -ell(e) as a suffix. Danielle, Chevelle, Ladelle, Donnell, and Cherelle are examples. Does that mean that some HR people automatically toss all of us "ell(e)" names into the reject pile because of their assumptions? Affirmative Action would be the ideal resolution, but these ideas of who can be considered viable candidates need to change also. Just because Kelly is black and has a simpler name does not mean she does a better job than me.
Meanwhile, if I have children, I've already decided on a common first name, but the kids will be called by one of their middle names. It's a trend in my immediate family anyway. So, I could have a son named Robert Marcel or a daughter named Jessica Tahira. (I will not be raising Hennessey or Chablis.) They'll get an explanation on the reasoning in their adult lives.
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