A person's name is what defines them and could be considered as a label. But what would happen if a person's name is misread and someone assumes something that is untrue. In other words, what a person's name or let's say their label makes others think they are something they aren't. For example, my real name is Bryant, many people would assume I was a rich, preppy white kid just by reading my label or my name. Another example would be the names Reshard or Reshaun, when most people hear these names the first thought that comes to mind is that this person is of African descent. What if a person's name could mess them up from the beginning when they are popped out their mother's womb until they are old, decrepit and buried 6 feet under? What if what your parent's named you many years ago affects you in a negative way? For example job opportunities or relationships could be altered due to your name. This theory is what I like to call "Name Discrimination."
My personal definition of "Name Discrimination" is when a person is believed or judged to be something or someone different than what they really are based on their name or label. I bet you are wondering where did this come from? This has rooted from me personally being discriminated because of my name and many parents who do not think of the consequences of the name or label they place on their children by giving them ridiculous names.
Most of you who personally knows me, can obviously see I am a black dude, but like I mentioned earlier in this post, my name is Bryant. The name Bryant is either a person's last name or a Caucasian name and I do not fit any of those requirements. In other words, myself and many others are the exception. I have had many job opportunities and usually they assume I am a Caucasian male because of my name. In other words, they read my warning label, my name, and made an assumption that was not true. I cannot say this happened with every job, but I know that 3 jobs I applied for over the years did not hire me because I was black and not Caucasian like my warning label mislead them to believe. Imagine if you were in the employer's chair and you have an application with a person who is named Bradley, you would assume he was Caucasian or an application with the name Monica on it, you would assume they were African American. Most employers are already looking for a specific person to fill job vacancies before conducting interviews so if you do not fit their description, no matter how qualified or over-qualified you are, then you are already not in contention of getting a job. Name discrimination branches out further than just employment opportunities, name discrimination can affect relationships you form also.
Most children when they start school, they are discriminated, because of their name, and labeled as "problem" children before the teacher, principal, or other children's parents have met them. Another example is meeting new people, making new friends, or building an emotional relationship. A person's name is important because without matching a face to the name, then many people we all meet in our lives has no other way to make a connection besides our name. Most of the time, their judgements are inaccurate and they assume we are someone totally different from what our label or name suggests.
Not all instances is "Name Discrimination" a bad thing. Most people would not be given opportunities such as meeting that special someone or job opportunities if their name totally described who they were or the type of person they are. After a name is introduced, then it depends on the owner of the name to step up and give your name meaning and a personality. No matter how horrible the name your parent's gave you, it is up to you to help those who discriminate, or label you because of your name, to change their assumption or judgement of you. This leads me to answer the question, which is the title of this post, What's in a name? The answer is really simple, YOU are what's in a name especially if it's yours to begin with.
