Would you change your birth name, to avoid racial profiling or prejudice?
By sylviekitty
@sylviekitty (2083)
United States
January 7, 2007 1:24pm CST
I may have worded my question weird, but here is what I mean. I have a friend who was born in French Guiana. His birth name is an Arabic name, however, and there have been many times where after terrorist attacks have occurred around the world, he has been looked at like he is from a "terrorist" country (and his name did not help matters). At some point, he became an American citizen, and he legally changed his name.
Would you change your name if you felt like it was having a negative impact on your ability to live your life- in a world where anybody who "looks like a terrorist", or has a "funny name" is being questioned?
3 responses
@ONUVICTOR (135)
• Nigeria
8 Jan 07
its resonable to do that however
you may be losing at the other side of the coin
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
8 Jan 07
yes, I would agree. You do lose something- a part of yourself, perhaps- by changing your name.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
8 Jan 07
well yeah if thats is the situation..its not a good thing to be look upon as terrorist jsut by the name only ..if im in her shoes ill do change also...funny names?? yeah i will..but first i have to ask my parents why they give me such a funny name and ask their permission to change it legally...
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
8 Jan 07
I know of somebody who had a "funny" name.. Yasmin. Well, I don't think it's funny, but she never liked it. And from very early on, she insisted people call her Laura. I have no idea where she got Laura from, but after she graduated high school, she changed it legally. LOL
