Coli Breh Teacher details his stressful times saying the names of his Gen Z students

[Vandelay]

Real shyt. Names have meaning character and energy behind them. They hold power just like words. You can't just create that outta nowhere

It's why you see a lot of successful Michaels, managers be named Jim and you don't meet a lotta productive Tyrone's.

The universe always listening I dont think these made up names are helping us

Names definitely mean things, and I'm not a fan of the conjugated ghetto French names black folk have been creating in the last 30 years, but there is an unwarranted stigma around predominantly "black-sounding" names.

Yeah, there's more black folks with the name Tyrone, but it's actually British in origin. My first name is a uniquely black first name; for awhile I thought it was holding me back from jobs; but my shyt is French/Latin in origin.

There's shouldn't be stigma around names black folk appropriated or are African/black in origin. Some white folks just be uniquely stigmatizing our shyt.

 

[thefloorislava]

The names aren’t the problem it’s bias against the kids that have those names. It’s like how AAVE gets labeled as Ebonics/Slang despite almost all credible linguists recognizing it as a functional dialect of English. I think it’s a sign of self hate to make fun of stereotypically “black” names.

 

[HarlemHottie]

I used 3 random names to make a point about names and the energy associated with them trying to correlate that with the possible lack of energy with made up names that have no history behind them. if thats sumn a dumb person does then rock out

... Nah.

In your comparison, you used 'Tyrone' to represent a name 'lacking energy.' ("You don't meet a lotta productive Tyrone's.") Seems more like a bias against names associated with ADOS.

 

[24 Hr. Finesse]

Names definitely mean things, and I'm not a fan of the conjugated ghetto French names black folk have been creating in the last 30 years, but there is an unwarranted stigma around predominantly "black-sounding" names.

Yeah, there's more black folks with the name Tyrone, but it's actually British in origin. My first name is a uniquely black first name; for awhile I thought it was holding me back from jobs; but my shyt is French/Latin in origin.

There's shouldn't be stigma around names black folk appropriated or are African/black in origin. Some white folks just be uniquely stigmatizing our shyt.

Dont disagree with anything you said. My name is Tarik, you think white people havent stigmatized or stereotyped me throughout my life? But it still has meaning and significance behind it.

And we gonna sit here and act like we dont stigmatize the name Tyrone? Sistas??? Cmon man I was robbed by a dude name Tyrone in 7th grade and cant think of one I personally know or know of that wasnt wild af

My point which maybe i didnt make clear is that beyond whether a name sounds Black white or whatever - maybe names period have significance and energy attached and just making up names might be a crapshoot.

Its no disrespect to anyone with a name like the bolded or who wanna name their kids that but maybe its deeper than just coming up with creative names maybe we need to be more strategic than that. Look at the name Jalen, its made up but has the energy of a famous sports star behind it and look at the hundreds of young sports stars named Jalen today across the leagues

 

[42 Monks]

tyrone and jalen aren't even flagrant

some of these parents name their kids outrageous shyt on a whim

 

[The God Poster]

Key and Peele already did this skit.

Exactly he a few shades too dark to jump in on the fun

 

[skokiaan]

It's why you see a lot of successful Michaels, managers be named Jim and you don't meet a lotta productive Tyrone's.

Tyrone can't catch a break

 

[Piffiztheanswer]

Audassity got me

 

[24 Hr. Finesse]

... Nah.

In your comparison, you used 'Tyrone' to represent a name 'lacking energy.' ("You don't meet a lotta productive Tyrone's.") Seems more like a bias against names associated with ADOS.

And I just addressed this in another reply. Who said anything about lacking energy? Maybe instead of saying productive I shoulda said dudes named Tyrone aint usually about shyt but the street and not in a good way - but didnt feel the need to go directly there

And I know there are good brothers with that name but I dont know any personally and I do know a few. But please dont act like we ourselves havent stigmatized the name Tyrone, jokingly or whatever. Or havent met or heard of a wild ass Tyrone Maybe its an age thing but jokes and comments about "nikkas name Tyrone" wasnt uncommon BITD

But Im the polar opposite of racist or dumb so please dont try to flip my words on me

 

[Bigen King]

My lil cousin has a mixture of 4 family members names combined into ONE.

You gotta remember these kids might be 12 -13 yrs old but their parents are only 27 - 35 years old

 

[Vandelay]

Dont disagree with anything you said. My name is Tarik, you think white people havent stigmatized or stereotyped me throughout my life? But it still has meaning and significance behind it.

And we gonna sit here and act like we dont stigmatize the name Tyrone? Sistas??? Cmon man I was robbed by a dude name Tyrone in 7th grade and cant think of one I personally know or know of that wasnt wild af

My point which maybe i didnt make clear is that beyond whether a name sounds Black white or whatever - maybe names period have significance and energy attached and just making up names might be a crapshoot.

Its no disrespect to anyone with a name like the bolded or who wanna name their kids that but maybe its deeper than just coming up with creative names maybe we need to be more strategic than that. Look at the name Jalen, its made up but has the energy of a famous sports star behind it and look at the hundreds of young sports stars named Jalen today across the leagues

Yeah, I understood you just fine. My first name is Marques. You're more likely to get robbed by a Tyrone, because the name is prevalent. One of my best friends is named Tyrone and he's a lieutenant or captain at the fire department. You probably would get robbed by a Mike just the same.

I'm trying to be careful not to tow the line of "nikkas and black folk". I worked a temp gig back in the day and ran across some wild ass first names. There's stigma and then there's just bad taste. As ridiculous as I think Nayvadius sounds as a first name, it shouldn't carry anymore or less stigma that Sukdeep, Truck, Guadalupe carries.

 

[Pull Up the Roots]

Those aren't the only reasons. Names have meaning - culturally and socially. Choosing a name that links family and/or culture is one thing (Nathan, Wali), making up a whimsical, trendy name is another (La' 3vion/La Trayvion, QuaDarius)
This isn't self-hate or racism, just common sense.

It's always some ignorant, anti-Black shyt whenever I see one of you awful posts.

The problem with this post is that it's rooted in a narrow, biased view of what is considered "common sense" regarding names. Black names are simply names, just like any others. To dismiss them as whimsical or trendy reflects a lack of understanding and respect.

Further, the issue isn't about the names themselves, but the racist judgment placed on them. Many so-called "unconventional" names are judged negatively simply because they are associated with Blackness. Historically, people with ethnic-sounding names have faced discrimination in hiring practices, housing, and other areas of life, not because of the name's inherent value, but due to the bias of the people in power.

The question shouldn't be whether a name fits some arbitrary standard of what sounds "respectable" or "common sense," but why people feel the need to judge others for their names at all. The focus needs to be on dismantling the stereotypes and biases, not blaming individuals for their expression.

 

[Kiyoshi-Dono]

Demon’Trey