According to Plato, the task of a name-giver is sacred. Names are deeply connected to our perception of the world, and a name-giver’s ability to assign them is a weighty responsibility (Plato, Cratylus). Perhaps this reverence for name assignment is what makes it difficult to understand the reasons behind naming practices in other cultures. In her paper about understanding modern African-American naming, Smith demonstrates that the unique practices of black name-givers do not “indicate family dysfunction or ignorance” as many assume. Instead, name-givers assign unique names to their children primarily “out of kinship, as a reflection of cultural pride, and as an expression of creativity and uniqueness” (Smith, 1996). African-Americans use all …show more content…
African-American culture relies on this more than many others because of the cultural degradation that African-American individuals have experienced throughout history. Many African-Americans make an active effort to choose names derived from their culture in order to replace the identity conferred on these individuals by slavery and strengthen their connection to modern black culture. This is corroborated by the sudden explosion in unique naming during and after the black power movement of the 1960s and 70s. Prior to this point, there was a great deal of overlap between black and white naming practices (Dubner). During this time, cultural leaders like Malcolm X championed the importance of unique names as a means to represent cultural pride by disowning their own last names in order to sever their connection to slaveholding culture (Fikes). This sentiment motivated many name-givers to opt for intentionally misspelled variants of common white names, like “Dawne” instead of “Dawn”. These names were popular because they were not used by slaveholders, and as a result represented independence from that culture (Waugaman). As sentiments of Black pride strengthened, individuals began to look to their African heritage as sources for their names, causing names like “Jamal” and “Aisha” to gain prominence. Creole influences caused an increase in the use of the “La” and “De” prefixes (Waugaman). By …show more content…
In older generations, prior to black power movements, this “refined” culture to copy was that of the upper-class white American. This resulted in many modified “white” names being used by black individuals initially (Waugaman). However, with the increasing cultural pride felt by black Americans, there is an active move away from the educated, white part of America. In addition, due to the historical subjugation of African-Americans, there is not a strong, upper-class, distinctive black culture in place that would serve as a source of “high” names. This means that there is a drive to avoid most existing popular names and to create new ones. As a result, the entirety of the creative energy of a black name-giver is directed towards creating completely unique names. By assigning these names to their children, name-givers are able to exercise their creativity while giving their child a name that both separates them from white culture and is aesthetically
Jim Crow, thought of as a name, however, is a term meaning “characterizing black people (Litwack). The term was originated from a white ministerial with the name of Thomas “Daddy” Rice. He would blacken his face with a burn core to resemble an african man. Then, he would beg, have an enormous smile, would dance and
names are prevented from being able to reassimilate within society, they are the outcasts. It also
Americans have used the term "black" or "negro" to describe all persons with African ancestry. The rules were really tricky about being black. There was a black leader who led African Americans in twenty five years from 1890 to 1915. He had a speed of the African American which was known as Booker T. Washington Delivers the 1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech. The speech became one of the most significant speeches in American history.
Smith, Howard Walter. “The Impact of Racial Trauma on African Americans.” http://www.heinz.org/UserFiles/ImpactOfRacialTraumaOnAfricanAmericans.pdf/. N. p. Feb 16, 2010. Web. Feb 18, 2013.
African-American is a politically correct term used to refer to blacks within the United States. The roots of many African-American rites can be traced back to African cultural rites. However, it is important to note that not all blacks in America identify with African cultural roots. Therefore, some of the rites found within what many in the United States call African-American culture stem from Caribbean and other cultural traditions. For this reason, when making end of life decisions or funeral arrangements the “cultural identification, spirituality and the social class” the individual identifies with must be taken into account. The black majority within the United States identifies with Afrocentric traditions and perspectives. For this reason the term African-American will be used within this paper to denote the black population found in America as comparisons are made regarding how end of life decisions are viewed and made by African-American culture verses the traditional western European beliefs of American culture (Barrett, 2002).
...d G. Fryer Jr., himself an African-American, has studied the “Acting White/Black” phenomena and found it stems more from education, “White” referring towards higher level of education and “Black” referring to lower levels. When race is removed from the equation a prevalent pattern can be seen within races as socioeconomic status and naming trends (Levitt 190). The pattern is able to roughly measure the education of a child’s mother depending on the choice of name and the frequency of the name within social classes (Levitt 190-204). Over time Fryer could see the way names tended to move, down. As names become more used and common they will pass on lower to lower social classes (Levitt 201).
“Can you imagine what a mess a world would be without names? (website)Names are very important to a person and their individuality. Ayn Rand’s novel “Anthem” is a book in which the people written about do not have names. The importance of having your own individual names is huge. A name can have meaning given to it, like how the name Sue means lily. Most parents when giving you your name have a meaning behind it and put much thought into what their future child should be named. Names can give you a part of your identity.
Although not sharing a last name can’t really hurt anybody, it is important for a child’s identity. Traditional people understand that children always have the same surname as their fathers. Therefore, people may not realize the relationship between them if they don’t have the same surname. Besides, connections between mothers and children are strong, but fathers also play a very important role in families, as Breslin herself points out. The blood of the child is the combination of the blood of his/ her parents. I can’t give my children my wife’s last name just because she was pregnancy. It doesn’t make sense to me. Furthermore, there are many ways to show the love of the father for his family so they don’t need to be concerned about sharing their name with their children. In fact, I agree with Breslin’s views because I think that people should follow the tradition, reinforce family togetherness, and adhere to history. Many women and children find that having the same last name as their husband helps them feel more like a family, and a new name is an important symbol of a family united. It is not only the tradition in America but also a tradition all over the world. For example, my country, Viet Nam, people passes on the husband’s surname to their children. It historically states a long time ago and becomes a tradition. If anybody tries to do the opposite, they will be called ill
It must be noted that for the purpose of avoiding redundancy, the author has chosen to use the terms African-American and black synonymously to reference the culture, which...
Names having great meaning in human civilization. They can have personal meaning and help create the foundation for a sense of self and identity. They're often rooted in a persons heritage and culture and therefore can serve to remind a person of where they come from. They help create a sense of recognition and familiarity between people and ultimately a sense of solidarity and community. Names can also be used as a form of respect and affection or as signs of disrespect. These various roles that names serve can be seen through out Lawrence Hills 'Book of Negroes'. In the novel Hill repeatedly makes reference to names and the meaning they carry for the novels heroine, Aminata Diallo and those around her. For Lawrence Hill and his characters naming and names themselves are powerful symbols of identity, family, culture, respect and their erasure is a potent symbol of power and domination.
In From Slavery to Freedom (2007), it was said that “the transition from slavery to freedom represents one of the major themes in the history of African Diaspora in the Americas” (para. 1). African American history plays an important role in American history not only because the Civil Rights Movement, but because of the strength and courage of Afro-Americans struggling to live a good life in America. Afro-Americans have been present in this country since the early 1600’s, and have been making history since. We as Americans have studied American history all throughout school, and took one Month out of the year to studied African American history. Of course we learn some things about the important people and events in African American history, but some of the most important things remain untold which will take more than a month to learn about.
Despite the restrictions imposed by slavery, African Americans have made significant contributions to American culture in music, literature, and cuisine.
Everyone is raised within a culture with a set of customs and morals handed down by those generations before them. Most individual’s view and experience identity in different ways. During history, different ethnic groups have struggled with finding their place within society. In the mid-nineteen hundreds, African Americans faced a great deal of political and social discrimination based on the tone of their skin. After the Civil Rights Movement, many African Americans no longer wanted to be identified by their African American lifestyle, so they began to practice African culture by taking on African hairdos, African-influenced clothing, and adopting African names. By turning away from their roots, many African Americans embraced a culture that was not inherited, thus putting behind the unique and significant characteristics of their own inherited culture. Therefore, in an African American society, a search for self identity is a pervasive theme.
Traditions are practices/beliefs that are passed down from generation to generation. In traditional African societies, a kinship ties people through birth or marriage. There are two kinds of relationships in customary African tradition; those bound by blood, which are called consanguine, and those constructed by marriage, called affilial. There are four key descents that determine inheritance and marriage. However, the most common descent is patrilineal, which traces ancestry through one's father. While in America, we are vary tolerant of tracing our descent from both parents.
I have read an account called " 'What's in a Name? " ", which is composed by Henry Louis Gates. This account demonstrates to us a youth experience of the creator that happened amid the mid-1950s. In the article, Gates alludes to an occurrence when a white man, Mr. Wilson, who was well disposed with his dad, called his dad "George", a name which was a prominent method for alluding to African Americans in those circumstances. In any case, Gates' dad needed to acknowledge this separation and couldn't make a move around then. By utilizing sentiment to bring out individuals' enthusiastic reaction, and utilizing suggestion, Gates effectively communicates his claim that name shapes individuals' discernments