#black names
If you feel left out because your name is “made up” and does not have a historical meaning, remember that your name is made up of the sounds your name giver thought were the most beautiful to their ears, and they were not content with the ones already in existence. That’s a very unique part of them that you can have even after they’re gone.
If I mispronounce your name because it is foreign to my tongue, correct me.
I don’t purposefully allow the accents of your name to fall flat on my tongue like the European English demands or the language to sound chopped and misheard.
If I don’t say your name correctly, don’t shrug and say it’s ok because people have been doing it all your life. Your mother worked hard to name you that name, with all its syllables and apostrophes and hyphens and inflection.
I don’t want to disrespect your heritage, your culture, your great grandmother or grandfather and their struggle.
If I mispronounce your name, forgive me, but don’t let it happen again. Make sure everyone knows your name.
