Ta-Nehisi Coates on being "a snob"

You mean to tell me that L'quantaniqua and Deshawntravious aren't authentic, Afrocentric names straight from the motherland? Now I've heard everything.

 

:smt043

 

Is he telling the kids something they won't be able to see on their own?

I think if you drone on about problems, yet never present solutions, you're doing a disservice rather than a benefit.

Some of you probably have parents who tell you how horrible, horrible the race thing is -- but that's just the way things are and things will never change because you can't do anything about it. :smt003 Anyone familiar with that?

The kkk and nazis and whoever hates black folks would celebrate attitudes like that.

Yet problems have solutions (I think). If you're brilliant enough to write about the problems...

Anyway, again maybe the dude's book is brimming with solutions, so I can't disparage him. I've read some baldwin, but haven't read Coates.

 

:smt043:smt043:smt043

 

I am not trying to hate or judge just in case anyone has kids with those names, but I think that parents do need to be mindful of stereotypes when it comes to things like job applications or school admissions. If I ever have a son, I'm naming him James lol.

 

Lol. Hey, I understand about weird names....

 

:smt043

 

True but your name actually means something. Well, I guess all names mean something but you get the idea. If I were a parent I would save the creativity for the middle name and play the first name straight down the middle.

In my line of work names can make all the difference in the world, which is sad but true. Plus it's good enough for my daddy so it's good enough for me.

 

Yeah, but my name means "lordly."