tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post1546231242777330148..comments2023-08-23T03:51:55.709-05:00Comments on Muslim Bushido: Why Black Women Should Leave The Helping Professions, Part 2: An Extended Reader's Money Quote From Hagar's DaughterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-45212845207170421842015-01-08T17:53:29.977-06:002015-01-08T17:53:29.977-06:00Peaceful Lane,
I think any field that has an infl...Peaceful Lane,<br /><br />I think any field that has an influx of foreign workers is usually a very risky field to get into. <br /><br />Everybody's mileage may vary.<br /><br />Expect Success!Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-38173398431046154702015-01-08T15:03:14.061-06:002015-01-08T15:03:14.061-06:00so Khadija, do you think becoming a RN (reigstered...so Khadija, do you think becoming a RN (reigstered Nurse) is one of these professions you mention to not go into? Nursing has many areas and options. They also have doctorate positions, college professors, House Supervisor, etc. I have to say you have a point. Nursing is my dream and I am going for it. I can start my own business with a nursing degree too. With social work, you are pretty much limited.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-81727915614634476602009-05-15T10:59:00.000-05:002009-05-15T10:59:00.000-05:00Hello Khadija,
His co-host, the comedian, was th...Hello Khadija,<br /><br /><br />His co-host, the comedian, was the one who challenged them on the ridiculousness of some of these requests while M.B. laughed and giggled in the background. <br /><br /><br />But neither one of them ever challenged the BM callers directly on not paying it forward. M.B. just complained on air about it. <br /><br /><br />So - he was playing their responses off as one big joke.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-71749043422261303672009-05-14T23:13:00.000-05:002009-05-14T23:13:00.000-05:00Aphrodite,
Thank you for providing this evening's...Aphrodite,<br /><br />Thank you for providing this evening's belly laugh. I enjoyed it. LOL!<br /><br />You said, "Well, in the small ending section I listened to the majority of callers were BM and to make a long story short M.B. was flustered and didn't know what to do because none of the men who requested help had any plans for "paying it forward". <br /><br />They would get on air and ask for what they wanted and then when he would ask them on air how were they going to pay it forward there was silence. Well crickets and then silence. LOL"<br /><br />RESPONSE: {chuckling}<br /><br />You said, "And M.B. was surprised and shocked that not one BM in a how many hour show could say how they would "pay it forward". Not only that, but he acted shocked at the requests. One BM had a job, got fired, and wanted the show to pay for his housing as he had no where to stay."<br /><br />RESPONSE: {laughter} Yep. They key words were that the Negro radio imp <EM>"acted</EM> shocked." <br /><br />Let me ask a silly question: Did M.B. (the Negro radio imp) question or (God forbid) <EM>challenge</EM> these BM callers about their unwillingness to "pay anything forward"? Or did he just roll through these crazy requests as if they were reasonable? Or did he play it off as one big joke?<br /><br />I'll be extremely surprised if M.B. actually confronted any of these trifling fools about their WEAK, SPOILED, lopsided demands & expectations. {eye roll}<br /><br />Peace, blessings and solidarity.Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-70464627896721871672009-05-14T21:22:00.000-05:002009-05-14T21:22:00.000-05:00Re: AA women helping and giving
This is so funny...Re: AA women helping and giving<br /><br /><br />This is so funny that I have to share. <br /><br /><br />You know the demon with the radio show M.B. had a contest yesterday called "pay it forward" based on the movie. He says due to the economy being so bad - this is his way of helping and he wanted others to pay it forward within the community. <br /><br />Well, in the small ending section I listened to the majority of callers were BM and to make a long story short M.B. was flustered and didn't know what to do because none of the men who requested help had any plans for "paying it forward". <br /><br />They would get on air and ask for what they wanted and then when he would ask them on air how were they going to pay it forward there was silence. Well crickets and then silence. LOL<br /><br /><br />And M.B. was surprised and shocked that not one BM in a how many hour show could say how they would "pay it forward".<br /><br /><br />Not only that, but he acted shocked at the requests. One BM had a job, got fired, and wanted the show to pay for his housing as he had no where to stay. <br /><br />He said he was tardy all the time and his boss told him to show up 15 minutes early everyday and he told his boss where he can put it and now he wanted this show to get him somewhere to live. <br /><br /><br />I was laughing my butt off! MB just couldn't understand- he was confused. <br /><br /><br />But event though this was a man, albeit a demonic DBR man- I think it illustrates all the points that BW empowerment bloggers are driving home re BM and the AA collective <br /><br />1. Believe your eyes and experiences <br /><br />2. BW have been and some still are being used collectively and individually - for all their resources<br /><br />3. BM feel entitled to BW's resources and help<br /><br />4. BM are already divested<br /><br /><br />etc so forth and so on...<br /><br /><br />So if you are a BW still romanticizing helping professions just consider that these BM were a part of a game where one of the requirements was that you had to do something good for someone else and they had no shame in admitting that they were not going to reciprocate on national radio! <br /><br /><br />I would think that if it was "your job" to help them then your treatment definitely would be much worse as they 'know' you have to help them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-33161727600243034852009-05-13T18:14:00.000-05:002009-05-13T18:14:00.000-05:00Hello there, Geekgrl!
{shaking my head}
Peace, b...Hello there, Geekgrl!<br /><br />{shaking my head}<br /><br />Peace, blessings and solidarity.Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-74208181865841420182009-05-13T17:31:00.000-05:002009-05-13T17:31:00.000-05:00Re: Fire Fighter Examination
I heard the story o...Re: Fire Fighter Examination <br /><br />I heard the story on NPR and having studied HR Selection, it looks like a valid case. It sounds like a clear case of employment discrimination in the form of disparate impact. <br /><br />[pulling textbook from shelf]<br /><br />… In this form organizational selection standards are applied uniformly to all groups of applicants, but the net result of these standards is to produce differences in the selection of various groups. …. A number of frequently used and seemingly valid selection requirements have been the subject of disparate impact discrimination charges, including arrest records, type of military discharge, various educational degrees, scores on some tests and interviews, years of previous work experience, and financial history. (Gatewood, Robert D. “Human Resource Selection”)<br /><br /><br />http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103289178<br /><br />From NPR: <br /><br />‘Kenneth Yusko, a specialist in employment testing, says psychologists aren't sure why certain written tests produce racial disparities in certain job categories, but they do.<br /><br />Indisputably, blacks and Hispanics did poorly on the New Haven promotional test, more poorly than they had in the past. Critics say the test was flawed in part because 60 percent of the grade was weighted toward a multiple-choice written test. A brief submitted by industrial organizational psychologists contends that such weighting is out of line with current practices.<br /><br />The brief also argues that even New Haven's oral examinations did not use many of the modern techniques relied on in the majority of fire departments today, where real equipment or tabletop models, for instance, are used to simulate real-life situations.’<br /><br /><br />In our HR department, when we hire security staff, we do exercises where a distraught caller is asking for security and rate the candidate's response. (The caller is in one room, the candidate in another.) This is rated by two people and weighed higher than the written exam.geekgrlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16424142328942480574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-58085975289299071572009-05-03T21:02:00.000-05:002009-05-03T21:02:00.000-05:00Hello there, JaliliMaster!
What you described is ...Hello there, JaliliMaster!<br /><br />What you described is one of many reasons why I'm DEEPLY angry with <EM>Hip Hop Crack House</EM> subculture and videos. {seething}<br /><br />You asked the question, <EM>"What does that tell you?!"</EM>It tells us that it's time to walk away and pursue our own interests.<br /><br />Peace, blessings and solidarity.Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-15903196003596692152009-05-03T14:13:00.000-05:002009-05-03T14:13:00.000-05:00"I remember reading about this case but what stood..."I remember reading about this case but what stood out to me the most was the comment made by one of the black firefighters. He indirectly admitted that AA men are lazy but should be held to a lower standard due to the past racial discrimination against blacks. <br />I couldn't help thinking, if my house ever catches fire, I want the most competent firefighters on scene to save my burning house. After all fire does not care if the firefighter have had a rough past or not. I really hope those guys that passed the test win their case. AA men need to served a resounding notice that their excuses are worn out."<br /><br /><br /><br />"@Jailimaster, I heard about this case as well. To me, it was a no-brainer. As long as the test was about being a firefighter, I can't imagine why the black firefighters thought they were entitled to promotions. Either you have the aptitude or you don't."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Bear it in mind that I was in Europe when I saw this on the news. This sort of nonsense is being broadcast to the rest of the world, not just in America. Negroes have a problem with other folks thinking they are stupid or of lower intelligence.......till they think they can benefit from it. I'm all for Affirmative Action, if it means that an exceptional black person (note that I didn't say minority or just woman) can get an opportunity that would have otherwise been denied him or her. Similarly, I'm all for it if two people of the same level of competence, whether average or above average are being considered. However, if the choice is between a white man who scored, say, 400 out of a possible 600 (i.e. an average score) and a black man who scored 300 (i.e. just managed to scrape past the half-point mark), I'd pick the white guy anyday. I don't believe anyone should be getting an unfair leg-up. Affirm. Ac. was meant to reverse that (and the cumulative effects of centuries of discriminations). However, if one isn't even qualififed for a post, I get disgusted at the thought that they think they are still more deserving of it because they 'is a minoreetee'!<br /><br />And not to harp on AA men, but I think it is very unfortunate how the actions of some AA men when they are outside America ends up making things bad for AA women when they travel abroad. Many folks don't know, but in the Middle East, Black women are viewed as whores. This is all through no doing of our own. It's become an even more widespread belief due to the degradation of BW in these music videos. Their view is (those in these parts of the world), that if Bm think so low of BW to portray them in this way, then it must be true. As I'm Black, any negative image of AA women is still, in most cases, going to be applied to me as well. I remember once when I met an Arab man who lives in Dubai. There are quite alot of Africans who go there to do business. He saw me, and assuming I was AA, decided to get semi-lewd with me. I just ignored some of the things he said as at the time, I assumed it was a culture thing so didn't want to get rude. I was like "dude, what do you want?" He then looked at me weird and then went away. Later, out of nowhere, this guy came to me and started apologising profusely. He went on that he "didn't know that I was African", and he was talking about me to someone else and found out that my Mother is from Nigeria (Understandably, my accent isn't African, but it's not American either). Turns out, he travels quite alot, and has a very negative view of AA's. Additionally, alot of the AA men he's met were usually rather dismissive of AA women in general. I then asked this fellow whether most of the AA women he'd met had actually given him reason to believe he could act that way. Turns out he had never met a single AA woman in his life! So all the negative stereoptypes he had of AA women were due to the actions of AA men. At the time this happened, I was much younger (a teen), so I was still not as clued-in to how racial dynamics play out in other parts of the world and the effects of media stereotypes. Now, I wish I had actually gone further and called him out. <br /><br />Similarly, there was a case somewhere, it was either in an Eastern African country or somewhere in the Middle East. Some type of U.S. representative (I can't recall, but I don't think it was an Ambassador), was invloved with several 'way too young' girls and some very financially degenerate behaviour. As a result, there were grumblings in the country's press that why did they have to be the one's that got the AA. yes, it was a black man. This man was engaging in the sort of behaviour one get's used to from the typical negro politiicians (in the mould of Kilpatrick and Jefferson, with underage sex thrown in). One of the other guys who was helping him cover his tracks was also AA. No African-American woman had ANYTHING whatsoever to do with it, yet got lumped together with this negro and his henchmen.<br /><br />If one notices, folks are able to make distinctions between gender when it comes to every other race. It's only when it involves Black folks that the two are just lumped together. And it is done the most with Black Americans. AA women in particular need to realise that women in every other part of the world (yes, even African women and women in the Middle East) know that their men have a certain obligation. I was thinking about it this past week and talking with some friends. I get more and more annoyed when I'm trying to figure it out. AA women are the only group of women that I know about that would keep on giving to community, men etc., even when it is no longer in their interest.<br /><br />When a group has abandoned the community, those still there know to not let them continue to leech off it, as they are contributing nothing. In this case, a good majority of AA men have abandoned the AA community, yet AA women are dragging their feet to let these men know what's up. Last week, I got a bit upset when Khadija first wrote about leaving these sorts of 'helping' professions. I kept thinking 'what about the kids, what about the suffering'. But after a lot of thought, I realise that she's right. Most of the people I see trying to improve the community are.....Black women. Most of the people I see bearing the burden when things go wrong in the 'Black community'.......Black women. Most of the people who get praised when they decide to act and do the right thing......Black men. Most of the people actually getting support from said 'community'......Black men. Most of the people providing support and resources to organisations that are meant to help the black community.......Black women. Most of the people said support and resources are actually being spent on.......Black men!<br /><br />What does that tell you?!JaliliMasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17020248960880215958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-37298879862037755402009-05-01T06:56:00.000-05:002009-05-01T06:56:00.000-05:00@Jailimaster, I heard about this case as well. To ...@Jailimaster, I heard about this case as well. To me, it was a no-brainer. As long as the test was about being a firefighter, I can't imagine why the black firefighters thought they were entitled to promotions. Either you have the aptitude or you don't. <br /><br />I've often felt like a class orphan as well. The mindset of poor has morphed to such a degree these day that I can no longer relate to them. We were definitely raised with middle class values, or maybe they were working class values, I don't know. But what I encountered working with poor people in social services was so different from the way I was raised I literally used to say I was taking an expedition to Mars every time I went out into the field.roslynholcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03423350501595717113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-64704860684037556192009-04-30T23:50:00.000-05:002009-04-30T23:50:00.000-05:00@ JaliliMaster,
I remember reading about this cas...@ JaliliMaster,<br /><br />I remember reading about this case but what stood out to me the most was the comment made by one of the black firefighters. He indirectly admitted that AA men are lazy but should be held to a lower standard due to the past racial discrimination against blacks. <br />I couldn't help thinking, if my house ever catches fire, I want the most competent firefighters on scene to save my burning house. After all fire does not care if the firefighter have had a rough past or not. I really hope those guys that passed the test win their case. AA men need to served a resounding notice that their excuses are worn out.amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05103083609808615533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-42896004264792887752009-04-30T23:40:00.000-05:002009-04-30T23:40:00.000-05:00Hello there, JS!
As far as I'm concerned, middle ...Hello there, JS!<br /><br />As far as I'm concerned, middle class is a state of mind. The mindset outweights the external trappings. <br /><br />My grandparents were poor. They didn't base their self-identity on poverty. They thought of themselves as decent, working people. My parents grew up poor. They also didn't base their self-definition on being poor. They thought of themselves as people who simply hadn't <EM>"come into their money"</EM> yet!<br /><br />My parents became middle class <EM>internally</EM> LONG BEFORE they acquired the external material, monetary and educational "goodies." <br /><br />[I've always been tickled by that phrase <EM>"come into my money."</EM> I'm especially tickled with the way my mother says it with such quiet confidence. She <STRONG><EM>knew</EM></STRONG> that if she made the right moves, she would no longer live in poverty.]<br /><br />Granted, the nature of Black poverty has drastically changed since my parents' and grandparents' eras. The Black poor still had dignity in their day. However, I believe that the general principal still applies. Within limits that are less confining than most of us believe, we DO have the power to pick our own place in the scheme of things.<br /><br />JS, I'm saying all of this to say that you're in whichever "class" you feel like you belong in.<br /><br />Peace, blessings and solidarity.Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-83908811927697033772009-04-30T23:24:00.000-05:002009-04-30T23:24:00.000-05:00One more thing I wanted to add as I'm moving files...One more thing I wanted to add as I'm moving files from my laptop to my external HD. I bookmark websites and save info for later use and wanted to share this from the Center for Women's Business Research: BUSINESSES OWNED BY WOMEN OF COLOR GROWING FASTER THAN ALL U.S. FIRMS<br />Businesses owned by women of color provide 1.7 million jobs and generate $235 billion in revenues in 2008.<br /><br />The full report, Businesses Owned by Women of Color in the United States, 2008, is available for $50. Contact: Center for Women’s Business Research, 1760 Old Meadow Dr., McLean, VA 22102. Phone: 703-556-7162. Email: info@womensbusinessresearch.org, Web site: http://www.womensbusinessresearch.org.Faith at Acts of Faith Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150553143062604249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-30528508194525952452009-04-30T23:23:00.000-05:002009-04-30T23:23:00.000-05:00It is a shame that the black poor have fallen so l...It is a shame that the black poor have fallen so low. As a child, I use to believe that if you were poor you had morals and dignity but had to survive with much less. That viewpoint quickly changed though once I became an adolescent. However, I cannot help but feel a little strange when class based discussions come up. Khadija, it is not that I am offended but its weird being a product of divorced parents with all siblings conceived in wedlock but growing up in low-income areas with a different value system and shy personality. I have witnessed this dysfunction, not to this level of intensity though, with my own eyes. Yet I know that I am nowhere near middle class. <br /><br />Sometimes I feel like a class orphan.JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06754776470019202557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-4605669675277147112009-04-30T22:35:00.000-05:002009-04-30T22:35:00.000-05:00Faith,
THANK YOU! I love information that helps o...Faith,<br /><br /><STRONG>THANK YOU!</STRONG> I love information that helps open up new possibilities! {raised fist salute}<br /><br />Peace, blessings and solidarity.Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-643915255440656782009-04-30T21:25:00.000-05:002009-04-30T21:25:00.000-05:00I got an Amazon alert for a book the readers might...I got an Amazon alert for a book the readers might be interested in as we consider alternatives.<br />http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440464537/ref=pe_5050_11944580_snp_dp <br />It's titled Move Abroad Start Your Own Cafe with little Money and Live From It. Now I haven't read it but the title grabbed my attention!!Faith at Acts of Faith Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150553143062604249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-59051968232808559502009-04-30T20:19:00.000-05:002009-04-30T20:19:00.000-05:00"From my observations while working in these court..."From my observations while working in these courtrooms, dark-skinned Negro males are MUCH more likely to claim paternity of an extremely light-skinned child. I suppose they feel that "officially" having a light-skinned child represents some sort of trophy or accomplishment for them; even if the odds are that the child is not theirs."<br /><br />Unbelievable! I know this is truth. Years ago before I was schooled in the interworkings, intricacies, dynamics etc., of why skin color is such an issue within the black community, I was coming back from lunch one day and a bm/ww couple, baby and mother-in-law (I assume) were driving up. This negro almost broke his neck to get that white looking baby out of the car so I could see it. I knew what he was doing, but didn't understand why. First of all he was holding the baby in his arms instead of the saftey of a car seat, and then, the car had barely stopped. Even though I now know why, I am still shaking my head.<br /><br />A quick note: Maury Povich can attest to some of these Negros not even claiming children by white girls who turn out light, bright and damned near white. Who knows if they just want a free trip to New York along with the limo service, nice hotel and all the free food they can eat, or if they are really that trifling. Not many bm do this as they are too busy denying their children by black women, but there are a few who appear on the show and some of these negros even have the nerve to bring their stereotypical ghetto mothers on the show to deny the child as well. It turns into an insult fest with the poor (stupid but poor) girl being called all kinds of sluts and hos. (No one sees the producers and staff behind the scenes asking the stimuli questions that get those conditioned responses right on camera). Sometimes, the child is not the guys, but most of the time, these men know the children are theirs. I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want to reveal such a personal story before millions of viewers (oh yes, the ratings have been consistent for over 10 years based on DNA testing alone). Don't they know that someday a child will see this crap and know that the mother did not know who its father was? Or that the father denied paternity? truly truly smh on that.<br /><br />Oh, and let's not forget some of the names on these poor children are listed in the "Book of Ghetto Sounding Names" Its tragic all the way around and so familiar in the black communities. White girls have the issue too, but black and Latina girls far out number the white girls on these shows. If I didn't know who the father of my child was, I would be so ashamed and the world would never see my face on TV, just for the cost of a trip to New York or any price. Have some dignity.Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515274985831595151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-80419837068546583852009-04-30T18:39:00.000-05:002009-04-30T18:39:00.000-05:00Speaking of child abuse courtrooms, you should hea...Speaking of child abuse courtrooms, you should hear the snickering going on among the county attorneys and the deer-in-the-headlights look of the judges when AAs have the nerve to exclaim that they belong to a Native American tribe. (When a child belongs to a Native American tribe, there are certain procedures that must be followed before the parents' rights can be terminated.) If I had a dollar for every time this happened, man! And these folks would truly believe that they are part of some Native American tribe. The judge would ask, "what tribe?" And then, of course, you get the "well my grandmother was Cherokee ..." So the judge has to take this into account. (I think the judge was just humoring these people and going out of the way to be fair.) We would have to stop the court proceedings and the State's Attorney had to write a letter to the tribe to verify this. The tribe ALWAYS, I mean ALWAYS wrote back that this Negro is not part of the tribe - no way, no how, not even remotely. It's so embarrassing. I just wanted to crawl under a desk each time this happened. And it almost always did -- and a lot of these people would be blacker than tar (not that there's anything wrong with that). But come on, that Cherokee mess is another thing that needs to die a quick death. (And yes, I know there are some AAs who have legitimate Native American ancestry. But guess what, the NAs are not trying to claim AAs, especially now that there's money involved.)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14407313117912440644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-24311888671468683382009-04-30T18:33:00.000-05:002009-04-30T18:33:00.000-05:00Hello there, BlackGirlInMaine!
What you described...Hello there, BlackGirlInMaine!<br /><br />What you described is the reason why, as an employer, I would throw away resumes with invented, ghetto names: You had the common sense to be uncomfortable with that type of name. You had the common sense to stop using that name.<br /><br />I would have <STRONG>GRAVE</STRONG> concerns about the common sense (much less savvy) and professionalism of somebody who persists in trying to use an invented, ghetto name in professional settings. <br /><br /><STRONG>The harsh reality that I've observed is that ghetto issues usually accompany people wearing ghetto names.</STRONG>For just one of many examples, the striver-Black attorneys I've previously mentioned who felt that it was appropriate to use Ebonics in court---they have invented, ghetto names.<br /><br />The invented, ghetto names are a stigma and a burden. AAs need to STOP inflicting these names on their children.<br />____________________<br /><br />Hello there, Lorraine!<br /><br />The man who wrote the editorial against these names is absolutely correct.<br /><br />Peace, blessings and solidarity.Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-93856321308954952009-04-30T12:12:00.000-05:002009-04-30T12:12:00.000-05:00Greetings everyone,
I have chuckled at a couple o...Greetings everyone,<br /><br />I have chuckled at a couple of these responses especially about the ghetto sounding names and would laugh out loud if it wasn't so sad. I recall this starting around the time of "Roots" even beng in 7th grade not understanding why someone would name their child "Kunte Kente" Smith. And later Akeem, Tutankhamun, Ali Jenkins --- in some effor to reconnect with the African motherland. Most of the thinking is that the names are cute. Such immature thinking ghetto thinking is still quite the norm. There has been controversy over some of those names being shut out of the work force. I know a capt. in the Navy who worked hard to earn her rank complain about her ghetto sounding name. She chose not to change it as she has been able to excel and marry very well, but had she not gone into the military may have had a more difficult time being taken seriously. There are exceptions but most of those resumes go into the trash. <br /><br />I was surprised to see news reporter named "Drakeel". She was a good reporter who has gone on to become an entreprenuer in the DC area. I honestly don't know that her name was a turn off to people but I have my suspicions. You can read Drakeel's testimony on her website. http://www.drakeelenterprises.com/index.htm <br /><br />There has been study after study about these names and the impact they will have on these children's future. What in the world can one expect for their child by naming them after a car or fashion designer (except for Chanel Iman Robinson)?<br /><br />Corey Martin of the Daily Mississipian wrote a very accurate assessment of the whole "black name' phenomenon. Check it out.<br />http://www.thedmonline.com/2.2840/stop-using-ghetto-names-1.110607 <br /><br />I am shaking my head on this.Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515274985831595151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-15726985898042651462009-04-30T10:57:00.000-05:002009-04-30T10:57:00.000-05:00I enjoyed this post especially as someone in a hel...I enjoyed this post especially as someone in a helping profession though as the Executive Director of a small agency, I don't have much direct contact anymore with clients. Though when I was living and working in Chicago, I could share some stories...I used to work with the homeless and had some scary days. <br /><br />However it was the comment about made up welfare recipient, prison bound names that caught my attention. <br /><br />I was born in the early 1970's to young parents who gave me one of those names. In the early 90's I made the decision after years of hating the name to simply stop using it. I never legally changed it but lets just say very few people know my full legal name. <br /><br />I have grappled over the years with that decision having some on my own family question me for wanting to be white. (eye roll) <br /><br />Its just that I did a test where I sent resumes out with legal name, wouldn't get any response, then inserted new name...guess who got responses. <br /><br />I agree folks need to stop giving their kids made up fake African sounding names because in the end its really a burden for that child. Even a straight A good kid will have assumptions made when they have such a name.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-91000693355920353402009-04-29T23:27:00.000-05:002009-04-29T23:27:00.000-05:00Hello there, Hagar's Daughter!
Oh yes, the madnes...Hello there, Hagar's Daughter!<br /><br />Oh yes, the madness is spreading to the AA middle class. In large part due to the Acting Black Crew loudly asserting that these invented, ghetto names are somehow actually "African-American" names. As if. And that to reject these idiotic names is racist.<br /><br />One of my friends is a ob-gyn nurse. Over the years, she has had more than one "Sheniqua" ask her for the spelling of a medication name in order to name their baby<EM>...after...the... medication.</EM> She refused to give them the spelling. <br /><br />These tend to be the same women to whom she has patiently explained that they don't have to allow their baby daddy's MALE friends to be in the delivery room watching them give birth. These "Sheniquas" tend to tell her that they don't mind having their boyfriend's MALE "homies" in the delivery room (looking at their genitals). {very long sigh}<br /><br />The fact that so many AAs don't think this is important is yet another indicator of how low we've sunk as a collective. The fact that so many AAs are lazy and frivolous with something as important as naming their children is a disgrace.<br /><br />A name affects the course of a child's life. A poorly-chosen name has "price tags" attached to it. As you know, many employers routinely throw away resumes with these ghetto names. I don't blame them---I would too. And even beyond the practical, "worldly," negative impact of these invented, ghetto names, I DO believe that there's also a negative spiritual impact. I've noticed that these invented, ghetto names have a different (and <STRONG>NOT</STRONG> in a good way) "vibe" and "energy signature" to them.<br /><br />Peace, blessings and solidarity.Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-47967174857487508432009-04-29T23:10:00.000-05:002009-04-29T23:10:00.000-05:00Hello there, JaliliMaster!
The most ignorant of t...Hello there, JaliliMaster!<br /><br />The most ignorant of the ignorant AA welfare recipients name their children after liquor and automobile brand names: Tanqueray, Corvoisier, Lexus, etc.<br /><br />I will note that this business of invented, idiotic names among AAs didn't start (in terms of large numbers of people) until the 1960s or so. I'm not exactly sure, but I think the choosing of liquor and car brands as baby names started with the hip-hop era.<br /><br />{insert primal scream}<br /><br />In terms of the language thing: <br /><br />I think it would be best (for psychological reasons) for AAs to pick an African language. First, it would help dispel the lie that African = grunting savages with nothing of value. Second, AA children would probably feel something closer to a sense of "ownership" with an African language.<br /><br />I think that it's good in general for AAs to learn another language. I've watched the cultural and psychological benefits that non-AAs derive from having their own language---it's a way of being able to exclude others---which is a form of emotional power. <br /><br />My bottom line with the language issue is that it is extremely unhealthy for AAs to have almost nothing left of our very own. I feel that AA linguists should either create a language for us, or promote the study of an African language. If <EM>Star Trek</EM> fans can invent alien languages like "Klingon," we can do whatever we truly WANT to do! LOL.<br /><br />About the grades and test scores issue:<br /><br />We're so busy trying to get others to lower standards that we never consider this issue from a public safety angle. I DON'T want the guy/chick with a 700 SAT score or a barely-passing GPA flying the plane I'm on, or performing any other critical function.<br /><br />Peace, blessings and solidarity.Khadijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07732325133964607276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-63433690745598384472009-04-29T22:56:00.000-05:002009-04-29T22:56:00.000-05:00Khadija:
"These invented, welfare-recipient, priso...Khadija:<br />"These invented, welfare-recipient, prison-bound names are yet another topic that I can rant endlessly about."<br /><br />Reply:<br />This naming foolishness has to end. Middle class parents are choosing crazy names for their children as well.<br /><br />I have an incomplete blog post that I began writing 6 months ago about this very subject. Names like: Cashmoney (cash Mo nay), Pimp Deele, Danger, Michelob Lyte - you get the point. One mother named her child LaZonya (pronounced lasagna like the Italian dish) because mother was hungry during labor. <br /><br />Some people may brush this off as not being important, but it really is.Hagar's Daughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05329175102157599795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752646546511186140.post-56242768296094244712009-04-29T22:29:00.000-05:002009-04-29T22:29:00.000-05:00"First you have the gaudy product names: Courvoisi..."First you have the gaudy product names: Courvoisier, Lexus, etc."<br /><br /><br /><br />Lord have mercy! This is the first I've heard of someone being named after a product. There is this show 'American Princess.' One of the contestants was called LaToshua Joshua. I was in England when they aired it, and the brits made so much fun of it. I just shook my head!JaliliMasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17020248960880215958noreply@blogger.com