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The phenomena of how we select names for our children just amazes me. Why would you give children names that set up negative expectations for them before they even open their mouths?
A school teacher friend sent this to me. This is a childʼs name!
'Le - a'
How would you pronounce this as a child's name???
Leah?? NO
Lee - A?? NOPE
Lay - a?? NO
Lei?? Guess Again.
Are you resorting to tongue clicks yet?
It's pronounced 'Ledasha ' oh yes...you read it right. The dash is not silent.
This child attends a school in Livingston Parish. (Louisiana)
Her mother is irate because everyone is getting her name wrong. SO, if you see something come across your desk like this please remember to pronounce the dash.
When the mother was asked about the pronunciation of the name, she said 'the dash don't be silent.'
Any comments?
Posted Sunday, October 26th 2008 at 10:49PM
by: Dr. S. Maxwell Hines
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Sunday, October 26th 2008 at 11:26PM
Mercy, Mercy....hmmmmmm. Dr. Hines, I was totally stumped. I went with the lee-a
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Sunday, October 26th 2008 at 11:28PM
(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.
Jen Fad
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Sunday, October 26th 2008 at 11:28PM
Mercy...I will refrain from commenting Jen/posting an comment on that.
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Sunday, October 26th 2008 at 11:31PM
Correction. Jen his ruling is valid for his district. Federal Judges in other jurisdiction are not bound by his decsion/ruling
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Sunday, October 26th 2008 at 11:36PM
Thanks Dr. Hines for the update. It really should be against the law though. LoL Haven't some of these women heard of baby names which give the meaning and spelling of names?
Jen Fad
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Sunday, October 26th 2008 at 11:37PM
Even the HollyWood celebs are right up there. Who names their kid Apple? It really should be a crime.
Jen Fad
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 8:54AM
In some countries naming actually is regulated. In some European countries the government will not issues the birth certificate with some crazy outrageous name. I don't think that we'd want that in American. I can see some judge saying that an African or Arabic or Chinese name is not appropriate. But it is a cultural problem nevertheless.
The difference between the "Le-a" type names and the celebrity "Apple" type names is that the celebrity millionaire kids will still be treated like royalty whereas "Le-a" won't be able to get a job.
Kimberly E
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 9:05AM
It's sad and disdainful.
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 10:11AM
I'm so glad that someone other than me is bringing this up. It's so stupid. Giving children names like this only identifies them early for discrimination. People wake up! Racism and discrimination is ALIVE AND WELL IN 2008.
Jackie garrett
Jackie Garrett
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 11:18AM
Children with names that make no sense should change them legally when they become of age.
I know a woman who actually named her child "Morticia" -- yes, after the Morticia in the Adams family series (back in the 70s). Everyone just called her Tisha or Tish.
Sharon Moore
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 11:31AM
The link to the story "Judge rules that black women have to get permission to name their kids" is a SATIRE. It's not true, so don't get hyped about it.
I accuse my ex sister in law of being stupid in misspelling my niece's middle name. Shakira's middle name is pronounced Monet (the "t" is silent like the painter), but it's spelled Monia. So people pronounce it like Sonia (with an M). She (ex sister in law, age 45) is so ignorant that she never heard of Tawana Brawley! (The case that gave Rev. Al Sharpton his fame). I told her to look at the news EVERYDAY and read a newspaper at least once a week. Dumb ass!
Sharon Moore
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 12:03PM
People forget that these are not dolls; they are people. People that have to grow up and get jobs, eventually. And, with people voting to abolish Affirmative Action, resumes can just get tossed when someone sees a crazy name. Keep it up, and there won't be an employable Black in ten years - President Obama or no.
P.S.: If I had my choice between Apple and Lee - a (pronounced Ledasha), I'd take Apple. I'm just sayin'.
Melissa McGriff
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 12:39PM
LOL. I know this isn't true, but it's funny. The thing that gets me is that black people are the only ones.
Look at Apple, Gwenyth Patrow's daughter.
Or Rumer Glenn Willis, first daughter of Demi and Bruce Willis. And let's not forget their other daughter, Tallulah Belle. Demi, BTW, is short for Demetria.
And Julia Roberts named her twin girl Hazel. Who does that to a child?
And let's not forget even Will and Jada, who have a daughter named Willow.
Shannyn Sossamon (actress) and Dallas Clayton named their son AUDIO SCIENCE! NO joke!
Helen Hunt and Matthew Carnahan named their daughter Makena'lei. OKAY??
Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook named their daughter Sailor.
And don't even get me started on Whitney Elizabeth Houston naming her daughter Bobbi Christina!!!!!!!
Dee Gray
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 12:47PM
Dee, Kimberly makes a good point. When celebrities name their children these names, it probably won't impinge on their future but will Clitoria (as Jen said) be able to work in corporate America, LOL?
Dr. S. Maxwell Hines
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 12:49PM
I used to think that these names were the purview of teen mothers but Sharon set me straight on that one, lol.
Dr. S. Maxwell Hines
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 2:41PM
This is just ridiculous. Where is the pride that is suppose to be bestowed upon a child's name. Some of these names are a reflection of a persons educational level and just plain common sense. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to know that when you name a child that is a label they carry with them, unless they change it, into their adult years when it is time to be employable. They could have all of the degrees in the world and be wonderful people to employ, but if the manager can't even pronounce the name and associate uneducated with the name. The poor child is doomed. Sad, just sad.
Marquerite Burgess
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 6:09PM
It might be funny, if it weren't so serious a reflection of a deeper problem. I have taught children whose parents named them after liquour--Bacardi, Seagram--cars, and other things. One mother gave her child a name she can't even pronounce and every time she writes it she spells it differently. Shows how much we need to educate the parents. Maybe Geoffrey Canada at the Harlem Zone is on to something.
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 9:39PM
I can't even find this funny anymore, Renee. I find it maddening. Everyone has the right to be ignorant, but to heap that ignorance onto your own child annoys me to no end!
Dr. S. Maxwell Hines
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Monday, October 27th 2008 at 10:18PM
...heaping that ignorance onto your own child annoys me to no end...
LoL Dr. Hines. I'm just thankful that my mom gave me a name that allowed me to have a fighting chance in the world.
Jen Fad
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Tuesday, October 28th 2008 at 12:23PM
I hear ya. I met a girl who said she named her children white names so they could get jobs. She was a welfare mother of now 6. I was called Belle until I changed my name to Johanna which is my middle name. I agree that hopefully the child will be intelligent enough to change their name when they are old enough.
Johanna Nimley
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Tuesday, October 28th 2008 at 3:37PM
lol i find that hard to believe
and although i'm laughing it's really sad and distarbing to think what the hell was going on in that mothers head
Shamika Edwards
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Thursday, October 30th 2008 at 5:30PM
I think this name beats all the others. I was listening a while back to a local radio station here in the NYC area and a day care teacher said African Americans were not the only ones with these outlandish names, but the one name that struck with me to this day was Abcde {pronounced Ab cee dee}. I don't know this is a boy or girl. This is clearly what you would call disturbing.
Guest Visitor
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Friday, October 31st 2008 at 4:29PM
I think it's cute and creative. Who are we to tell a person what to and what not to name our children. We continue to let White America dictate to us. Look at Oprah - she turned out alright and her name was misspelled from the name Orpah of the Bible in the book of Ruth. I know a lady in Louisiana (where I live) who named her daughter Abc (pronounced 'Abecie) She has attended college and is doing well for her self. Forget folks and what they think. Barack is not an American name and he's doing alright for himself. People get a life - our people are killing themselves at a record number and that's what we need to be focused on.
Jacqueline Brooks
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Sunday, November 2nd 2008 at 3:22PM
Jacqueline, you sound like a person too young to have children or one who has named a child a name such as the ones we've discussed here. Which is it?
Dr. S. Maxwell Hines
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