The Power In A Name

Written by Matthew Worku

What is in a name? 

A name is a story. A name is a title tasked with capturing an entirely new person’s energy. A name, oftentimes, is a link to tradition and culture that dates back generations upon generations. For the nuanced experience of first generation North Americans, a name can tell the story of a child being equipped with the opportunity to exist in this land without judgement, while still keeping a connection to the land from which they came. So, when you bypass a resume because the name attached to it is unfamiliar, or you alter the pronunciation of a name to suit your convenience, it is not just a few letters that you are disrespecting; but a multitude of people and stories that you have decided do not exist. 

Unfortunately, this type of erasure is a common experience for black, recent graduates with a name that does not accommodate the pronunciation palette of corporate North America. For example, if Abdullahi and James apply for the same position at a firm where a majority of the decision makers are white, who has the better chance of being considered for the job? Of course, it is unfair to generalize an entire group of people and predict how they might act, but what is doubly unfair is the fact that Abdullahi might have to. One can almost guarantee that James has never had to consider how his name would be received by a potential employer, whereas Abdullahi is subjected to considering if a short form of his name would work better on a resume to make it more “competitive”… whatever that means. 

This speaks to the importance of diversification in the workforce, and not just on a shallow, presentable level. A firm’s inside should accurately reflect the world outside, if moments of erasure like this are to be avoided. In the emerging global economy, garnering a culture of different perspectives and upbringings is essential if a firm is to empower incoming graduates with a lot to contribute. 

Luckily, there are efforts being made to minimize the disconnect. LinkedIn has recently introduced a pronunciation feature that allows users to add an audio recording next to their name on their profile. This is a step in the right direction, as it helps bridge the gap between people from various backgrounds while allowing the workforce to participate in this form of inclusion. Other efforts being made to help bridge the gap are present in the work being produced by Sunday School. By not only recognizing, but amplifying the voices and experiences of black people through media and other interactive engagements, familiarity with our stories is given a chance to cultivate. Thus, learning to pronounce our names is no longer an obstacle or an event -- it just is.