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Helpthe problem (from my perspective)
in reply to a message by Shiply
(and as someone who likes the name Jemima)
is that, to use myself as an example, I have no business trying to "reclaim" the name, because I'm white. It's one thing if an African American parent/couple gives it to their child — they don't speak for the whole of American black society, of course, but they can at least claim the identity as their own. But a white parent/couple can't try to erase a history that isn't theirs to own ("own" in the sense that it doesn't affect them adversely, not "own" meaning to take responsibility).
It's a really good name, though. I wouldn't say it's completely unusable, but I think anyone who does want to use it needs to think about the implications and if they're comfortable with them.
ETA: Because I didn't address this, I still think it's a bit problematic even if the parent/couple isn't white or African-American. But maybe not as much.
is that, to use myself as an example, I have no business trying to "reclaim" the name, because I'm white. It's one thing if an African American parent/couple gives it to their child — they don't speak for the whole of American black society, of course, but they can at least claim the identity as their own. But a white parent/couple can't try to erase a history that isn't theirs to own ("own" in the sense that it doesn't affect them adversely, not "own" meaning to take responsibility).
It's a really good name, though. I wouldn't say it's completely unusable, but I think anyone who does want to use it needs to think about the implications and if they're comfortable with them.
ETA: Because I didn't address this, I still think it's a bit problematic even if the parent/couple isn't white or African-American. But maybe not as much.
This message was edited 3/29/2012, 5:08 PM
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