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Re: Historical Perspective to African American names
Some of those names do have genuine African roots, true. But I don't think that most do. I've never read about a girl named Chaneney in Africa. Keisha is good, Imani is good, Nia is beautiful, but Takwan? or Keyshawn? or God help us, Tequila?
People made them up. They wanted something that "sounded" African without having to do the work to find out what African was.
I give these people noooo credit. Like the wonderfully PC holiday of Kwanzaa I think it's a fairly absurd attempt to recreate a missing African culture. There is no need for it. If you want to find out about Africa then go there or study the different African nations.
Making stuff up just makes us all look silly.
Quote:
Originally posted by abaici
Our unique names date back to slavery when enslaved Africans were hesitant to christen their children with the names of the oppressors. The only thing we had control of was our name. Thus this tradition began. I think if no one else embraces names like, Shameka and Keshia, we should at least. It is a part of African American culture. Shouldn't we be just as proud of African American culture as we are of African culture?
*Note* Still, I cannot defend all of the names on this list. Naming your child after an alcoholic beverage is out of control!
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It may be said with rough accuracy that there are three stages in the life of a strong people. First, it is a small power, and fights small powers. Then it is a great power, and fights great powers. Then it is a great power, and fights small powers, but pretends that they are great powers, in order to rekindle the ashes of its ancient emotion and vanity.-- G.K. Chesterton
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