Since when does having a “ghetto” name mean that you are more likely to lead that type of lifestyle? People make choices that they feel are right for them regardless of name, class and/or upbringing. I know of several people that are from the projects that are now college students and professionals just like I know people who come from what some would consider A middle class upbringing and they end up drug dealers, criminals and the like.

Just as she laid with all those men and created all of those children, she knew what she was getting into before hand, and if she didn’t she made the choice on her own accord, not because of her name or because of her background.

I agree with you Desmond in that there is usually more than one way to solve a problem. However, some of the persons you mentioned may not have access to your means of solving the problem.

I’m not going to argue any further with you on your rhetoric. However, I’d like to request that you please stop making things up and do your homework. The African centered movements that have happened in the black community are wholly different from the naming phenomenon you’ve described. Lumping them together is a mass generalization of *VERY* different communities. The term “afro-centric” has been egregiously misused by you, your supporters and those comments (whose hugely inaccurate ‘facts’ do nothing to further your points) you post. If you’d like to learn more about Afrocentricity, I suggest you read up from scholars on the subject. My suggestions: Dr. John Henrik Clark, Molefi K. Asanta or Dr. Marimba Ani. That will at least give you a base from which to speak with more accuracy.

What is the name issue? That names are indicators? How do you make sense of the chapter you cited saying that ‘Michael’ was the most popular name among poor blacks in their study?

Is the issue that the names just sound stupid? Again, it’s your world. But it’s always odd to hear black people ride in favor of broad stereotype.

We’re not gonna agree on this — whatever ‘this’ is, as you still haven’t clarified — but thank you for your responses, nonetheless.

Who said Tarika’s name was “invented” because it “sounds African”? That’s an assumption based on a stereotype. I’m hard put to think of a more slippery slope.

The issue isn’t whether or not Wilson’s name is authentically African, but whether –as you suggested– it’s the reason she was shot by the police.

Tarika’s name didn’t bring about her death anymore than Mzungu Mmoja’s name creates the privilege he enjoys as a “white American photographer.”

I think it’s safe to say that never the Twain shall meet, Desmond, but thank you for the conversation.

Whether ‘Tarika’ is ‘authentic’ or not has no bearing on its validity. It seems as if you’re arguing that names that you personally think sound like ‘gibberish’ aren’t valid or legitimate. That, I guess, is your prerogative. You can discriminate in whichever way affords you the moral superiority you want to wield.

I just heard a clip of the roundtable discussion on Afro-centric names and wanted to share this perspective with you.

A month ago I was sitting at my buddy Kituku’s place in Nairobi, Kenya. He’s a young, successful Kenyan dentist – I’m a white American photographer.

We were watching a sports show on satellite TV where there was a black American female athlete with a typical Afrocentric name.

My friend Kituku posed me this question: “Where do black Americans get all these funny names from?” (his exact words)

I thought about it and responded that I thought it came as a reaction against the Christian names inherited from the days of slavery, and that they came up with these names to sound well…he looked at me…”more African.”

Kituku burst out laughing. To an African, the idea that a name like Shaniqua or Tarika, etc is somehow “more African” is preposterous and a little bit insulting. He ended up shaking his head and giving me the vibe that I usually get from people overseas when talking about American idiosyncrasies – “you Americans are crazy!”

My issue with so-called Afrocentric names is not that they seek to be Afrocentric – I think authentic Swahili names like Amani (peace) are both beautiful and meaningful – it is that they show a lack of respect for authentic African culture. Africa is a humongous continent with hundreds of languages – the differences between which are often as great as the difference between English and Chinese. I feel it is a bit simplistic and insulting to African culture to invent a name simply because it “sounds African”. ”
Mzungu Mmoja | Homepage | 02.15.08 – 2:28 pm | #

I rest my case.

I think you squandered an opportunity to have an informative discussion on the problems affecting communities like Wilson’s by making what happened to her about her name.

“Many have a tendency to believe what they want instead of engaging in a conversation.”

Fam, can you re-read this whole thread? It’s you whose speechifying and incessantly plugging your podcast. You’ve not elaborated or clarified any of the points you made; you’ve only made them more insistent. If this hasn’t been a fruitful or civil conversation, you certainly bear some of the responsibility for that.