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1/8
What's in a name? A thread.
I grew up with someone named Mustafa. He wasn't getting jobs and changed his name to Mike. All of a sudden the interviews started rolling in.
What's in a name? A thread.
I grew up with someone named Mustafa. He wasn't getting jobs and changed his name to Mike. All of a sudden the interviews started rolling in.
2/8
Mohamed is like a brother to me. He's now lives in the UK but still gets anxious flying to the US to see his family. Every time he hands over his passport he is subject to screening. He has been in 'holding' at JFK for hours, on multiple occasions.
Mohamed is like a brother to me. He's now lives in the UK but still gets anxious flying to the US to see his family. Every time he hands over his passport he is subject to screening. He has been in 'holding' at JFK for hours, on multiple occasions.
3/8
My brother in laws are Gautam and Sidharth, after the spiritual leader - Buddha. Gautam has been left off work emails because the person running the meeting hasn't "figured out" how to spell his name.
My brother in laws are Gautam and Sidharth, after the spiritual leader - Buddha. Gautam has been left off work emails because the person running the meeting hasn't "figured out" how to spell his name.
4/8
My husband's name is Fahim. When he was 6, he decided to go by his middle name Adam. This has led him to being invited to "lead" a number of work calls because his name was easy to pronounce and his color was disguised.
My husband's name is Fahim. When he was 6, he decided to go by his middle name Adam. This has led him to being invited to "lead" a number of work calls because his name was easy to pronounce and his color was disguised.
5/8
My name is Diya. When I was young I would play with my classmates and ask them to call me Jessica. I yearned for a name that was associated with White people.
My name is Diya. When I was young I would play with my classmates and ask them to call me Jessica. I yearned for a name that was associated with White people.
6/8
My sister's name is Amini. She's trying to figure out the phonetic spelling of her name to share on LinkedIn. It is important in her job search to make it easier for people who say they will respond to her but haven't, to not have an excuse.
My sister's name is Amini. She's trying to figure out the phonetic spelling of her name to share on LinkedIn. It is important in her job search to make it easier for people who say they will respond to her but haven't, to not have an excuse.
7/8
Rewind 5 years. Our son was born and we had a list of name options.
"How about Shaan?"
Single syllable? - check.
Easy to pronounce? - check.
Hard to discriminate against? - check.
Rewind 5 years. Our son was born and we had a list of name options.
"How about Shaan?"
Single syllable? - check.
Easy to pronounce? - check.
Hard to discriminate against? - check.
8/8
These are the musings of a mother / immigrant / person of color and the pain and power of a name.
#whitesupremacy #dismantleracism
These are the musings of a mother / immigrant / person of color and the pain and power of a name.
#whitesupremacy #dismantleracism
