Own Your Name!

Recently Raven Symone (widely known for her work in The Cosby Show and The Cheetah Girls) made a few comments regarding “Ghetto Names”. This has left a very bad taste in the mouths of the African American community. Raven stated that she would make the decision not to hire someone based solely on their name. She then made a joke out of it and disregarded it as a “racist” comment but more so of a “discriminatory” remark. Symone also made the comment while wearing a bright red “bird-like” hairstyle . One might consider that ghetto.

Being an African American woman herself, one might say that Raven Symone is a hypocrite. There are plenty of people who have unusual names who are/were VERY successful including: President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Condoleeza Rice. On that same note, there are people with names like Jasmine, Ashley, and Daniel who I would never hire based on them as an individual.

Just because your name is unusual does not define who you are as a person. Yes, there are people who will judge you based off of your name. There are people who will judge you by the color of your skin. However, as they say “Ignorance is Bliss.” That is why it is more important than ever to embrace yourself. You are powerful and your name is YOURS. No one can take that from you. Make a name for yourself and show the world that Keshia, Diante, and Shaquanta are powerful! OWN YOUR NAME. Don’t let your name represent you. Represent your name!

What’s your name? Please share it with us in the comments.