“You don’t seem to be your identify is Shaniqua, is that your precise identify?”
It is a frequent response once I introduce myself. As a baby, I assumed individuals merely discovered my identify arduous to say, however by my teenage years, I spotted the problem went deeper. The mispronunciations developed into judgments, and abruptly, my identify carried a weight I by no means requested for.
By the point I reached school, there was now not any ambiguity about how individuals felt about my identify. I used to be usually advised I appeared extra like an “Ashley,” or “nothing like a Shaniqua.” Throughout my run for president of the Black Scholar Motion, college students left disparaging feedback about me. The one which lower deepest was, “And naturally her identify is Shaniqua.”
I even had an ex-boyfriend inform me his mom was involved about whom he was courting due to my identify however felt higher after he shared my accomplishments.
Although the message wasn’t stated instantly, the underlying sentiment was clear. The stereotype tied to my identify was too loud to disregard, and it isn’t simply private expertise that proves this. Search for “Shaniqua” on City Dictionary, and also you’ll discover definitions like: “a standard identify used to mock/describe a Black lady from the interior metropolis.” These dangerous caricatures flip the identify Shaniqua right into a punchline, a “secure” vessel for racial judgment.
This isn’t simply uncomfortable; it has real-world penalties.
Multiple studies show that job candidates with “ethnic-sounding” names like mine are much less more likely to obtain callbacks than these with “Anglo-sounding” names, even with similar résumés. This type of name-based discrimination not solely perpetuates racist tropes but in addition impacts our skilled, social and emotional well-being.
Which brings me to Laura Loomer, the far-right provocateur who recently referred to prominent Black women like Vice President Kamala Harris, New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James and Fulton County (Georgia) District Legal professional Fani Willis as “little DEI Shaniqua voices” and “meritless DEI Shaniquas.” Loomer’s assertion is an insult steeped in each sexism and racism, aiming to delegitimize the achievements of these women by suggesting they had been solely employed to fill a variety quota.
The message? These girls are unqualified, loud and “too Black” to deserve their positions.
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There’s nothing new about Laura Loomer’s racist rant
What Loomer is doing is textbook racism, hiding behind the veneer of political critique. It’s no coincidence that Republicans frequently mispronounce Harris’ name or that Donald Trump questioned her biracial identity as a Black and South Asian American. By mocking her identify, they weaponize her id, enjoying on the fears and prejudices of their base.
Whereas Loomer’s racism is clear, identify discrimination goes past right-wing provocateurs. Quiet, delicate judgments of names like mine − Shaniqua − aren’t restricted to extremists. I’ve had mates, colleagues and mentors react negatively to my identify, individuals who in any other case contemplate themselves progressive. It’s not simply the open racists who take part in identify discrimination − it’s additionally individuals who ought to know higher.
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Ethnic names have an effect on individuals throughout races and cultures. Asian Americans often adopt Anglicized names to keep away from being othered. Title modifications characterize a survival technique, a option to reduce the bias and prejudice tied to their identities.
However the situation isn’t nearly Black individuals or the names of individuals of coloration. The issue lies in a society that tolerates and perpetuates this type of racism. We frequently hear that racism right now isn’t as overt because it was up to now, however name-based discrimination is a kind of “quiet” types of racism that persists. We enable names to turn into proxies for race, class and background in ways in which hurt marginalized communities.
Laura Loomer gained’t change, and I don’t anticipate her to. However the remainder of us ought to. We’ve got to cease tolerating this sort of discrimination, even when it’s delicate or when it comes from these near us. Whether or not it’s an informal joke or a clumsy remark, name-based racism and sexism should finish. Our names are a part of who we’re. They deserve respect, not ridicule.
Prejudice doesn’t finish the place it’s handy for you, and at some point a reputation as frequent as Susan might be topic to this similar bigotry.
We will do higher, and we should.
Shaniqua McClendon has labored in politics for greater than a decade and is at the moment the political director for Crooked Media.
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This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Calling Harris ‘Shaniqua’ isn’t new. It’s textbook racism
