Episode 42: Pause to Ponder - What's In A Name?

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations.

I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant.

Let’s get started.

This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students.

In this episode, I explore the meaning behind names and the perceptions some apply to them. Some names like Amari, Jabari, Latrice, and Malek are founded in ancient African languages yet conjure negative and stereotypical images of the people to whom they refer. I share a story in which I pushed back against parents stamping their children with names that would almost undoubtedly make them a target for racial profiling and the colleague who gave me something to think about. The conversation turns towards cultural assimilation and the practice of conforming to a dominant culture, one often rooted in eurocentric beliefs and customs, in order to be accepted. We end with a proclamation to claim and to love our names and either their rich, ancient histories or the uniquely crafted names that give the opportunity to develop their own meanings and legacies. 

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