White people

[Anonymous]

I have a group of college friends who think the trashiest white girl names are Dawn and Tammy. Back in the 1990s they used to "pretend" they were named Tammy and Dawn and use trashy gritty accents and everyone thought it was quite funny. I am quite sure they would now include fake family names like Madison and Kayden in there too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a group of college friends who think the trashiest white girl names are Dawn and Tammy. Back in the 1990s they used to "pretend" they were named Tammy and Dawn and use trashy gritty accents and everyone thought it was quite funny. I am quite sure they would now include fake family names like Madison and Kayden in there too.

During my teenager soap opera watching days in the 80s, I wanted to have twin girls and name them Amber and Autumn.
Good thing I wasn’t a teen mom!!!
Later I was told Amber is a “stripper name.” Dawn too.

[Anonymous]

Current trashy white girl names: kayla, brooklynn, destiny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White person here. Yes, I look down on traditionally "ghetto" names such as Tyrone and Laquisha. However this is not unique to White people. Asians, Hispanics, Middle Easterners, middle class African Americans - they all look down on these names.

Well so silly. Maybe you should look down on your own ignorance. Did you not know that Tyrone is an old name of Irish origins, referring back to a county in Northern Ireland?

Tyrone Power, American sex symbol of the 1930s-50s, hello?

So now you can acknowledge the bigotry of looking down on something just because for some odd reason you associate it with black Americans, which to you automatically means "ghetto". Not because of anything specific to the name itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I judge anything starting with La, Sha and ending in qua, isha

Just like I judge little Susan, Beth, Timmy, Tommy,

But why judge people on name only? Why not see who they are and judge their character?

I have a very close friend whose name starts with La. One of the smartest and most capable persons I know. Who has gone far in career. I would absolutely judge you for judging this person just based on a name.

(Beth??)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White person here. Yes, I look down on traditionally "ghetto" names such as Tyrone and Laquisha. However this is not unique to White people. Asians, Hispanics, Middle Easterners, middle class African Americans - they all look down on these names.

Well so silly. Maybe you should look down on your own ignorance. Did you not know that Tyrone is an old name of Irish origins, referring back to a county in Northern Ireland?

Tyrone Power, American sex symbol of the 1930s-50s, hello?

So now you can acknowledge the bigotry of looking down on something just because for some odd reason you associate it with black Americans, which to you automatically means "ghetto". Not because of anything specific to the name itself.

Actually not silly. You cite 2 examples from long ago. Unfortunately, people have biases and names are one of them. Whether it is a black name (like Laquisha) or a white name like Billy Bob (or most double names) some people will look down on them and not give them opportunities. Wealthy white people have the privilege of naming their kids after products or movie heroes because they can afford their kids the opportunities without relying on others to provide them.

It is what it is and unfortunately that's the way the world works.

AA Man

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I judge anything starting with La, Sha and ending in qua, isha

Just like I judge little Susan, Beth, Timmy, Tommy,

But why judge people on name only? Why not see who they are and judge their character?

I have a very close friend whose name starts with La. One of the smartest and most capable persons I know. Who has gone far in career. I would absolutely judge you for judging this person just based on a name.

(Beth??)

When it comes to getting a job, the world doesn't work that way. When you're going through a stack of resumes, you are literally looking for reasons to eliminate candidates. Unfortunately, many parents in the AA community are unaware of this fact or ignore it because they think their child will overcome it. By the way, I am black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you mispronounce and look down on black names?

What would you think of a black man named Mark versus a black man name DeMarcus?

Do you think Mark was raised by a college educated nuclear black family, or was he adopted? Did DeMarcus grow up in subsidized housing never knowing his father?

My name is Arabic, traditionally used in the black community. After my freshman year of college I went by the nickname Nicole and the change was obvious. I was still a black woman, but so there was a privilege in going by Nicole.

I had my children, and gave them top 100 Euro-centralist names, believing this was better for them.

My daughter has friend, a white child from an upper middle class family, named Karsynne. My son has a boy in his class named Wolff. I know so many white kids with names that are absolutely bizarre, completely made up and I want to kick myself for not naming my daughter Iesha. I thought I could erase a bit of their blackness, and it would help them navigate.

Seeing my Michael next to a blue eyed, blonde haired little boy named Maverick and I just have to laugh.

I may mispronounce a name and but I expect to be politely corrected if that happens. I don't look down on black names. I don't look down on names with cultural or family significance. I like to see Ashlees, Kaden's and Karsynnes succeed at life- having almost been a Tiffanie myself, a frivolous name would have girded my loins.

I personally knew a DeMarcus years ago, and he was a tall drink of water. I have a special place in my heart for DeMarcus.

No, I wouldn't assume DeMarcus or Iesha came from subsidized housing, and considering I grew up with a single mom and we barely stayed above the poverty level I wouldn't care. I'm not "better" than a DeMarcus or an Ashlee or a Karsynne. I'm not better than anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm AA in my 40s grew up middle class, private schools, lived with both married parents in a single family house in NYC suburbs. I have a unique name that is south Asian. Some may say it's ghetto. I would say try not to judge me, but if you really must why not judge me by what I have named my children. That is something I actually had a say in.

Funny...I am South Asian and have a South Asian name that could also be considered "ghetto" (it's actually mentioned in an old rap song where the lyrics include a list of women's names). Maybe we have the same name??

I think I know the song. It's possible we have the same name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current trashy white girl names: kayla, brooklynn, destiny

Or anything Kardashian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mispronounce and look down on black names?

What would you think of a black man named Mark versus a black man name DeMarcus?

Do you think Mark was raised by a college educated nuclear black family, or was he adopted? Did DeMarcus grow up in subsidized housing never knowing his father?

My name is Arabic, traditionally used in the black community. After my freshman year of college I went by the nickname Nicole and the change was obvious. I was still a black woman, but so there was a privilege in going by Nicole.

I had my children, and gave them top 100 Euro-centralist names, believing this was better for them.

My daughter has friend, a white child from an upper middle class family, named Karsynne. My son has a boy in his class named Wolff. I know so many white kids with names that are absolutely bizarre, completely made up and I want to kick myself for not naming my daughter Iesha. I thought I could erase a bit of their blackness, and it would help them navigate.

Seeing my Michael next to a blue eyed, blonde haired little boy named Maverick and I just have to laugh.

I may mispronounce a name and but I expect to be politely corrected if that happens. I don't look down on black names. I don't look down on names with cultural or family significance. I like to see Ashlees, Kaden's and Karsynnes succeed at life- having almost been a Tiffanie myself, a frivolous name would have girded my loins.

I personally knew a DeMarcus years ago, and he was a tall drink of water. I have a special place in my heart for DeMarcus.

No, I wouldn't assume DeMarcus or Iesha came from subsidized housing, and considering I grew up with a single mom and we barely stayed above the poverty level I wouldn't care. I'm not "better" than a DeMarcus or an Ashlee or a Karsynne. I'm not better than anyone.

pp here again- I'm reading the other comments- it's food for thought. I'll stick with the *I* statements in my post, but respect everyone's experiences- the statement about tossing a resume because of a name really got to me. Literally, I was recently looking for a job after being at home with my son, and you can see that even the most mundane part time positions have dozens, sometimes hundreds of applicants. I hate that anyone has to think that way. It's unjust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mispronounce and look down on black names?

What would you think of a black man named Mark versus a black man name DeMarcus?

Do you think Mark was raised by a college educated nuclear black family, or was he adopted? Did DeMarcus grow up in subsidized housing never knowing his father?

My name is Arabic, traditionally used in the black community. After my freshman year of college I went by the nickname Nicole and the change was obvious. I was still a black woman, but so there was a privilege in going by Nicole.

I had my children, and gave them top 100 Euro-centralist names, believing this was better for them.

My daughter has friend, a white child from an upper middle class family, named Karsynne. My son has a boy in his class named Wolff. I know so many white kids with names that are absolutely bizarre, completely made up and I want to kick myself for not naming my daughter Iesha. I thought I could erase a bit of their blackness, and it would help them navigate.

Seeing my Michael next to a blue eyed, blonde haired little boy named Maverick and I just have to laugh.

I may mispronounce a name and but I expect to be politely corrected if that happens. I don't look down on black names. I don't look down on names with cultural or family significance. I like to see Ashlees, Kaden's and Karsynnes succeed at life- having almost been a Tiffanie myself, a frivolous name would have girded my loins.

I personally knew a DeMarcus years ago, and he was a tall drink of water. I have a special place in my heart for DeMarcus.

No, I wouldn't assume DeMarcus or Iesha came from subsidized housing, and considering I grew up with a single mom and we barely stayed above the poverty level I wouldn't care. I'm not "better" than a DeMarcus or an Ashlee or a Karsynne. I'm not better than anyone.

pp here again- I'm reading the other comments- it's food for thought. I'll stick with the *I* statements in my post, but respect everyone's experiences- the statement about tossing a resume because of a name really got to me. Literally, I was recently looking for a job after being at home with my son, and you can see that even the most mundane part time positions have dozens, sometimes hundreds of applicants. I hate that anyone has to think that way. It's unjust.

It's been that way forever with resumes and names. I don't know why people continue to act surprised when it happens. We, as a people/nation are not above doing it and never have been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mispronounce and look down on black names?

What would you think of a black man named Mark versus a black man name DeMarcus?

Do you think Mark was raised by a college educated nuclear black family, or was he adopted? Did DeMarcus grow up in subsidized housing never knowing his father?

My name is Arabic, traditionally used in the black community. After my freshman year of college I went by the nickname Nicole and the change was obvious. I was still a black woman, but so there was a privilege in going by Nicole.

I had my children, and gave them top 100 Euro-centralist names, believing this was better for them.

My daughter has friend, a white child from an upper middle class family, named Karsynne. My son has a boy in his class named Wolff. I know so many white kids with names that are absolutely bizarre, completely made up and I want to kick myself for not naming my daughter Iesha. I thought I could erase a bit of their blackness, and it would help them navigate.

Seeing my Michael next to a blue eyed, blonde haired little boy named Maverick and I just have to laugh.

I may mispronounce a name and but I expect to be politely corrected if that happens. I don't look down on black names. I don't look down on names with cultural or family significance. I like to see Ashlees, Kaden's and Karsynnes succeed at life- having almost been a Tiffanie myself, a frivolous name would have girded my loins.

I personally knew a DeMarcus years ago, and he was a tall drink of water. I have a special place in my heart for DeMarcus.

No, I wouldn't assume DeMarcus or Iesha came from subsidized housing, and considering I grew up with a single mom and we barely stayed above the poverty level I wouldn't care. I'm not "better" than a DeMarcus or an Ashlee or a Karsynne. I'm not better than anyone.

pp here again- I'm reading the other comments- it's food for thought. I'll stick with the *I* statements in my post, but respect everyone's experiences- the statement about tossing a resume because of a name really got to me. Literally, I was recently looking for a job after being at home with my son, and you can see that even the most mundane part time positions have dozens, sometimes hundreds of applicants. I hate that anyone has to think that way. It's unjust.

It's been that way forever with resumes and names. I don't know why people continue to act surprised when it happens. We, as a people/nation are not above doing it and never have been.

Yes, it makes sense. I wanted a traditional name for my son to promote an image of competence and leadership- I never thought about names in the context of racial and ethnic bias when making interview decisions-- it's a new, unpleasant dimension to consider. The goal of dialogue is to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you already lived it, why ask here? I was just in Egypt, and haven't met a single Iesha, Latisha, Laquisha. I know a Tyrone here, and as I am not from US thought his name was traditional name and haven't thought a single thing about it. I know Suhelj, Suhas, Mahams, and they are all Middle Eastern and Pakistani names. I think they are wonderful names. I dislike made up names among any race, white as well. I can't understand names like Hayley, Bailey, Hayden, Cayden, and those are found among white people? What the heck is with these names?

Haley is a classic name, not made up, as is Bailey. I think this thread demonstrates how stupid it is to judge people on their names, because half of the names being identified as “made up” “ghetto” or “trashy” are actually classic (though not ultra-common) names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm AA in my 40s grew up middle class, private schools, lived with both married parents in a single family house in NYC suburbs. I have a unique name that is south Asian. Some may say it's ghetto. I would say try not to judge me, but if you really must why not judge me by what I have named my children. That is something I actually had a say in.

Funny...I am South Asian and have a South Asian name that could also be considered "ghetto" (it's actually mentioned in an old rap song where the lyrics include a list of women's names). Maybe we have the same name??

Lisa, Angela, Pamela, Renee. I love you, you're from around the way.

These are the names of all the Asian women I know:
Susan
Mina
Anya
Elisha
Christine
Angela
Jennie
Grace
Julia
Monica