Black student - 7 yrs Assault/ White student - probation arson, Paris TX

[AKA_Monet]

Given this Imus situtation, I am going to remind folks what my English Professor would always tell me:

"Words are powerful, they are the symbols of ideas".

Now, I already know what the quasi-research is out there on "Naming" folks, you all are stating the obvious to me. I am one of the GC Scholars here, so you are not telling me anything by quoting some TV or website.

I am asking for more from you, because I am training for professorship and sometimes it is hard for me to break out of that mold. I am constantly trying to get my students thinking critically and expound upon their given knowlege to reach a higher meaning. All scholars do that. The professor I currently work for does it to me all the time and he is quite intelligent a Harvard Graduate and a M.D./Ph.D. Moreover, he use to do local late-night talk radio.

But, that aside, I think you all fail to understand what I am saying. Yes, Black Folks should reconsider what they name their children - especially if they are named after cars they cannot afford, like Maybach.

But, history says that when my anscestors where brought here in chains, their names were beaten into them, from Kunta Kinte to Toby...

So when folks tell me anything regarding naming our children and a process to follow, that is the image that comes up in my mind.

Why did George Formen name all his sons "George" and all his daughters "Georgina". Because history states that long time ago, when the Klan decided to lynch someone, they had a hard time finding the right person unless the killed the entire village-i.e. Rosewood and Tulsa.

So there is history behind what I say and when I say it, it is not coming outta my ass. Most of the time, I have some basis. Otherwise, others are more willing to tell me.