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If you hear a child's somewhat unusual name and you've heard it on a TV show or movie...
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Anonymous
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To PP: I'm not the one who initially posted that I would think Declan was African-American, but why would thinking so be racist? I mean, no one would think anything of it if someone thought someone named Alastair was British/Scottish, for example, or if someone thought a person named Olaf was Swedish--those are names associated with particular communities. To me, thinking Declan is AA is no different.
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Anonymous
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Because you take this virtually unheard of name, it has a "De" in the beginning, and automatically it has to be a black kid's name.
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Anonymous
Well, yes, precisely! It is a longstanding practice in African-American to invent names (i.e. "virtually unheard of"), and a very large percentage of those names begin with De! You have hit the nail on the head as to why people would think it is an AA name. Since there is nothing wrong with AA names, I'm not sure why anyone thinks these thoughts are somehow racist. |
Anonymous
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PP again--meant to say in the African-American community; typo.
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Anonymous
Yes, but my cousin's name is Fiona, she is AA, everyone thinks it is an AA name. |
maynie
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This is so ridiculous it ceases to be offensive. Presenting your generalizations as truth is certainly interesting though. We do agree on one thing though. It isn't racist to believe as you do. Just sad and misguided. |
Anonymous
Not the PP, but I am seriously curious--are you saying that there are NOT a lot of African-American names that are made-up? Not a rhetorical question. Because while I won't get into the Declan issue, I do think it is unobjectionable to comment on the obvious, that yes, African-American often make up names. By "often," I obviously don't mean the majority of the time, but obviously more often than other ethnic groups. (The book Freakonomics even had a comment on this, if I recall correctly.) |
Anonymous
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A few years ago I spent time doing volunteer work in a predominantly African-American community. Among the youth that I got to know were people named DeShawn, DeAndre, Deonte, Demetrius, and DeQuan. Just sayin.'
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maynie
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I think if it makes you feel better about yourself as a person, to take potshots at an ENTIRE race of people across the United States then go for it. It would take a lot of time and effort on my part to fully explain what I think of the "most African Americans make up their kids names" posts, not to mention a waste of time, considering you would still feel the way you do. Believe it or not we're not all the same. And when you lump all African Americans into a group without regard to where and how people are raised etc., it's irritating. Honestly when I read the "haha, that sounds like an African American name" posts I told my husband people are just having some fun. I'm sure you don't mean any ill will. It did remind me of how different I really am from the majority of people on this board, so that would explain why I don't see things the same way you do. Different generations, environment, upbringing will do that of course. |
Anonymous
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"It would take a lot of time and effort on my part to fully explain what I think of the "most African Americans make up their kids names" posts..."
I've posted before on this thread and have read it in its entirety. I'm not the PP you are annoyed with, but I feel compelled to point out over-reactions. May I please ask, who said MOST African-Americans make up names?? I believe the answer is exactly no one--except the immediate PP quoted above, who is exaggerating, presumably because she is just so outraged. No disrespect, but it is easy to feel outrage if one exaggerates/misinterprets. |
Anonymous
What about DaeWong? Would you assume that to also be an African American name? |
Anonymous
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Bernex, Jerel, Jerrel, Kaiesha, LaClaudium, LaDaisha, LaKendra, Aeryn, Afton, Airee, Ankoma, Brionne, Cleophus, Damonika, Deon, Detrich, Devar, Dewayne, Dezmond, Divya, Dui, Esslina...
Are any of those "typical" names? Cause as far as I know, those are all made up. All AA. Friends of friends. I think people are blowing the Declan thing WAAAAAAY out of proportion. I'm a little offended at the PP who commented that Ashley was a trashy name, on par with Britney and Tiffany. That's my niece's name. |
Anonymous
....soooo it follows |
Anonymous
I know Germans with these names, spelled this way too actually. |
zumbamama
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| My blue eyed, very blonde haired nephew is named Afton. He was named after a mountain where his parents vacationed. |