After Judge Cabrera's historic ruling, little Clitoria Jackson will likely undergo a name change.
(DETROIT) In a decision that's expected to send shockwaves through the African-American community-and yet, give much relief to teachers everywhere-a federal judge ruled today that black women no longer have independent naming rights for their children. Too many black children-and many adults-bear names that border on not even being words, he said.
"I am simply tired of these ridiculous names black women are giving their children," said U.S. Federal Judge Ryan Cabrera before rendering his decision. "Someone had to put a stop to it."
The rule applies to all black women, but Cabrera singled out impoverished mothers. "They are the worst perpetrators," he said. "They put in apostrophes where none are needed. They think a 'Q' is a must. There was a time when Shaniqua and Tawanda were names you dreaded. Now, if you're a black girl, you hope you get a name as sensible as one of those."
Few stepped forward to defend black women-and black women themselves seemed relieved.
"It's so hard to keep coming up with something unique," said Uneeqqi Jenkins, 22, an African-American mother of seven who survives on public assistance. Her children are named Daryl, Q'Antity, Uhlleejsha, Cray-Ig, Fellisittee, Tay'Sh'awn and Day'Shawndra.
Beginning in one week, at least three white people must agree with the name before a black mother can name her child. "Hopefully we can see a lot more black children with sensible names like Jake and Connor," Cabrera said. His ruling stemmed from a lawsuit brought by a 13-year-old girl whose mother created her name using Incan hieroglyphics.
"She said it would make me stand out," said the girl, whose name can't be reproduced by The Peoples News' technology. "But it's really just stupid."
The National Association of Elementary School Teachers celebrated Cabrera's decision.
"Oh my God, the first day of school you'd be standing there sweating, looking at the list of names wondering 'How do I pronounce Q'J'Q'Sha.'?" said Joyce Harmon, NAEST spokeswoman. "Is this even English?"
The practice of giving black children outlandish names began in the 1960s, when blacks were getting in touch with their African roots, said historian Corlione Vest. But even he admits it got out of hand.
"I have a niece who's six. I'm embarrassed to say I can't even pronounce her name," said Vest, a professor at Princeton University. "Whenever I want to talk to her, I just wait until she looks at me and then I wave her over."
Cabrera's ruling exempted black men because so few of them are actually involved in their children's lives.
4 comments:
That is the most racist thing, I have ever heard in my whole entire life. Voting now something as simple as a name, who are you to think u can play God and determine a name of a child in which u had no labor pain with. That’s the problem with this country it’s worried about the unimportant things instead of focusing on what’s really important. Instead of trying to teach our impoverished population regardless if, they are black, or not the world wants to tear them down.
AYNDREA WILSON
What I am compelled to comment on is the 22 yr. old mother of seven, who is on public assistance!!! It doesn't matter what she names her children, they are destined to live a certain unfavorable existence. I think that judge was at least trying to help those poor children in society. But what future do they really have???
First I want to say hello to you then. I want to say in reference to this email that for the many things we do to show that we have no regards to the fact that the child have to carry around this name for the rest of their life. I am kind of tore between the idea of the black mothers right is being taking away and then again for some that intervention is need to help to guide the mothers into choosing a name with out inventing a whole new language to accomplish this.
Listen as a black man we have the right to name our children whatever we would like. When our ancestor came to this country we was stripped of our names and any rights. Watch the movie "Roots" get some history. My name is Jonathan but thats not what my African ancestors would have named me. Now we are going backwards stripping black people of their original names because it doesn't fit "white society". Regardless of whatever the child is named by his parents the child can then change his/her name when the reach legal age.
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