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Kunjufu · (#1 (**permalink**))

I really wanted to touch on two issues..

The first is connected with this story about the young girl who was taken to Pakistan by her father....now it emerged that she decided to change her name to Misbah... I noted however that ever media outlet kept referring to her as molly first and then Misbah.. To me this is the height of disrespect..settig aside that she is a European surely if someone of sound mind states this is how I now wish to be known...shouldn't people respect that?

The second issue which is connect is my personal experience when I reclaimed, (i don't say changed) my proper name....I legally dropped my Europeanised name in favour of one that reflected me culturally...

I remember in the early day some Black people absolutely refusing to accept my name, much less call me by it...Some thought I had insulted my parents..(I must state btw both were fine with my decision). However I thought it was interesting that in comparison between black and white people...Black people i met appeared to have the most problem with me reclaiming my cultural name...

Now however hardly anyone knows or questions my name because unless I tell people, no one knows what name I was given at birth. Although again it is strange that once some people know, they absolutely insist on knowning what my slave name was...naturally i refuse to give it..because it no longer represents who or what i am...i don't even think about it anymore...

As anyone else decided on this process if so what were your experiences..?