Say My Name

We all joke about how kids get screwed with odd names. Hyphens left and right and apostrophes?? Let’s not even talk about them. Recently, I had a short discussion at work. Someone decided to call me ‘K’. ‘K’, as in not my name. As in I-don’t-know-you!! I had to kindly remind people how it hardens my grits for people to do that. Don’t shorten my shyt without permission. I will not answer. And yeah, I’m in a mood today!

I have no problems telling you how to pronounce my name. I’ll tell you twice, maybe more times. If we see each other four days out of the week, for eight solid hours, pretend to have enough respect to try to say my name correctly!

I have two co-workers who are not American born. Both changed their names to something “easily pronounced”. Thier words, not mine. Actually, one only goes by the new name and the other legally changed hers. Both say when they came to this country, they felt out of place in grade school. They looked different and spoke the language differently. So I can see them, as children, wanting to fit in. But as adults?? I don’t know. I guess they really did melt into this pot. I wonder if that’s even possible if no matter their name, you can still tell they’re something other than white Amerikkkan.

One of my linesister’s name is Michelle. But it’s pronounced Me-Shell. I know how it’s spelled and I know how most people pronounce it. But she’s from Louisiana. And when pressed on the issues, she says that’s the way her mom pronounces it and since she respects her mom, she pronounces it that way and will only answer to it said that way.

I had a professor in graduate school who was East Indian. He had a long-ass-name full of vowels. When I took his class, we were not allowed to shorten it. But later when he was my boss, I was allowed to call him by a shorter name, but only because I was familiar. In his culture, his name, first and last, meant something. It wasn’t just something he was willing to drop because Americans were too lazy to pronounce it.

I don’t think I’m being hyper-sensitive. The way I see it, if I care enough, or pretend to, remember and pronounce your name correctly, you should do the same for me. And don’t ask me what my name means. I don’t ask yoiu what Matt means!!!