N
Naztakuan
Guest
Being that my family is a descendant of slaves, The idea of taking a lastname has to do with ownership. Unlike most people’s last names that have to do what their fathers did for a living like Granger(farmer) Bovinizer(cattle). Slaves were given their names based on who *owned *them except for the few men who named themselves Freeman after being freed. I’m not married but I took my Father’s name over my Mother’s who kept her own name but had it hyphenated later. That is her professional title. But Friends and relatives call her by my father’s name. My mother also is addressed by Ms. in professional settings instead of Mrs. My mother only uses Mrs when she’s trying to deter men from hitting on her. Since my mother is from the south, and her name is English in origin, then it can only be deduced that her name is a slave name and not given by marriage. My father’s name is Irish. The Irish people showed up much later in history and were therefore persucuted by the Nativists. That name was given through marriage when some Irish people married Native Americans or African Americans instead. Irish people weren’t considered white by WASP standards so there really weren’t any punishments or laws preventing them from marrying. For a large portion of American history, Marriage between whites and non-whites was a crime. Never have I ever heard of an Irish American Slave master. To me the idea of taking the name of man who didn’t bring me life or raise me as almost like an act of self imposed bondage. You write your names on things that you own. Books,clothing, toys. Not people.
For many Black Americans, the changing of names had less to do with feminism, and more to do withh empowerment which took place during the same time period. If you can Recall, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz was formerly named Malcolm Little. Many of his followers rejected their names and were addressed simply by X until they created names of their own. El-Shabazz’s wife is addressed as Mrs El-Shabazz, not Mrs Little or Mrs X. Depending on the name’s country of origin would also be a determining factor. I would probably take no problem with addressed as Mrs. Nakamura or Guiseppi but would probably be leary of a name like Louis or Johnson. I have reputataion among people for not conforming to to mainstream ideas that I find offensive or oppresive. Just because almost everyone does it, does not make it ok or the right way to do things. Taking such a “normal” name might cause people who respect me to percieve me as a sellout or insecure in my identity. My brother does this regularly in order to fit in with kids he barely knows or know him . He has a non European name but he is somehow ashamed of his heritage and prefers to be addressed by plain names like Tom or John . He is more concerned about being well liked and popular by strangers than having any actual integrity or commitment to any cause of any kind. I have also very exotic first name and I do not apologize for it. I also do not apologize for the way I speak or dress or the way I wear my hair which strike many people in my community as too radical or political. And in a way it is.
For many Black Americans, the changing of names had less to do with feminism, and more to do withh empowerment which took place during the same time period. If you can Recall, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz was formerly named Malcolm Little. Many of his followers rejected their names and were addressed simply by X until they created names of their own. El-Shabazz’s wife is addressed as Mrs El-Shabazz, not Mrs Little or Mrs X. Depending on the name’s country of origin would also be a determining factor. I would probably take no problem with addressed as Mrs. Nakamura or Guiseppi but would probably be leary of a name like Louis or Johnson. I have reputataion among people for not conforming to to mainstream ideas that I find offensive or oppresive. Just because almost everyone does it, does not make it ok or the right way to do things. Taking such a “normal” name might cause people who respect me to percieve me as a sellout or insecure in my identity. My brother does this regularly in order to fit in with kids he barely knows or know him . He has a non European name but he is somehow ashamed of his heritage and prefers to be addressed by plain names like Tom or John . He is more concerned about being well liked and popular by strangers than having any actual integrity or commitment to any cause of any kind. I have also very exotic first name and I do not apologize for it. I also do not apologize for the way I speak or dress or the way I wear my hair which strike many people in my community as too radical or political. And in a way it is.
) When they send him mail, they do not use his hyphenated name.
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