2007-02-26
African Names Like Shaniqua
Me and my husband are friends with a couple. The couple is currently pregnant. Me and said wife of couple were discussing baby names. I told her me and my husband thought about an African name for our child. She asked me was I going to name my child Shaniqua. Shaniqua is not African. It is a made up African American name with no meaning. Let me stress again this is not an African name. Why would she assume this to be an African name? Why is African names limited to Shaniqua. There are names like Asha, Nia, Re, and Imani, but these to her do not pop into her mind as African. I have learned to bite my tongue and that I can't teach people about African American, black, or even African culture because it isn't up to me, it is up to them, but damn it, use damn common sense before you open your damn mouth!!!! I don't want to tell her about herself, but she says ignorant stuff all the time!!! It is so annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I have always thought this. I am an AFrican and I have never heard these names or anything that sounds like them.
This both funny & sad. I am the pale half of an IR couple - www.zebracouple.wordpress.com - My wife and I laugh about pseudo-African names like that all the time. I was wondering (but assuming "yes") if the pregnant wife who asked the Shaniqua question is white. If so, I would like at this time to apologize on behalf of "my people." It is amazing and sad the things that come out of the mouths and minds of some people. I enjoyed your writing-- I'll come back.
Post a Comment