Columnist Bernie Hayes
The internet has been a powerful tool for spreading false rumors to the public. Pranksters who start these false reports can reach millions of people every day.
Have you ever been the victim of a chain letter or a hoax? There is a false rumor on the internet now that is intended to spread panic and make you appear gullible when you pass it to your friends. Here it is in part:
In a decision that’s expected to send shockwaves through the African-American community – and yet, give much relief to teachers everywhere – a federal judge ruled today that black women no longer have independent naming rights for their children. Too many black children – and many adults -bear names that border on not even being words, he said.
“I am simply tired of these ridiculous names black women are giving their children,” said U.S. Federal Judge Ryan Cabrera before rendering his decision. “Someone had to put a stop to it.”
The rule applies to all black women, but Cabrera singled out impoverished mothers.
“They are the worst perpetrators,” he said. “They put in apostrophes where none are needed. They think a ‘Q’ is a must. There was a time when Shaniqua and Tawanda were names you dreaded. Now, if you’re a black girl, you hope you get a name as sensible as one of those.” Cabrera’s ruling exempted black men because so few of them are actually involved in their children’s lives.
The story ends alerting the reader that this is a hoax, but how many will read that far?
One of the latest African-American baby naming trends is to choose a unique name, but shouldn’t we keep some of the old traditions of our ethnic backgrounds? It is becoming increasingly popular to give baby names that are more unconventional and unique. More and more parents are changing the spelling of common names with the desire to give their baby a name that stands out.
On May 17, 2004, Bill Cosby spoke to the NAACP commemorating the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Brown v. Board of Education. In his address he said “with names like Shaniqua, Shaligua, Mohammed and all that crap, and all of them are in jail – when we give these kinds names to our children, we give them the strength and inspiration in the meaning of those names. What’s the point of giving those strong names if there is not parenting and values backing it up?”
When choosing names, if we are unable to find a name that appeals to us because of its popularity, sound or association with a person we know, should we make a selection on what the name actually means? Does it describe a physical or personality trait that we would desire for our child? Does it represent a sentiment that makes us feel happy, hopeful or peaceful? And, finally, will the meaning of this name transfer into similar positive characteristics in our child?
Although there is no scientific proof that the meaning behind someone’s name will define that person, there often appears to be a startling relationship between children and their name meanings.
In Kenya, the male name “Abasi” means stern. In Swahili the female name “Achieng” means born at mid-day. And in Tanzania the name “Adamu” is Adam while the female name “Adimu” mean rare. “Fenyang” in South Africa means conqueror.
There is a golden thread which runs through African and African-American history. Our common history give as unique opportunity for solidarity. We are proud of our roots. We should be proud of our parents, our grandparents and our great grandparents, and we should honor our heritage in many public and private ways, including naming our children.
Our ancestors endured the tyranny and poverty of slavery, and became American citizens to seek a better life for themselves and their families. This common goal ties us together.
How important is being of African ancestry to your identity? Does what we think characterize us as black? What in particular are African values, and what are the African values that make us proud to be African-American?
We should be consolidating our roots through friendship and pride, but also through knowledge, because we can be as magnificent as we attempt to be. We must initiate our own counter-campaign, designed to flood the media and the internet with truth and actual research evidence.
I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or by e-mail at: berhay@swbell.net.