Kunjufu wrote:
Quote:
I really wanted to touch on two issues..
The first is connected with this story about the young girl who was taken to P*kistan 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some people know, they absolutely insist on knowning what my slave name was...naturally i refuse to give it..because it no longer represents who or what i am...i don't even think about it anymore...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..?
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Good move Kunjufu. I wish more Diasporan Africans will follow suit as the journey to our roots and culture begin with our names. I know my kids will get all African names and no European first names as was the practise in our parents generations.