Irony alert – James Ragland on urban black names

(And maybe a bit of hypocrisy or pander, too.)

Dallas Morning News metropolitan columnists Steve Blow and James Ragland recently had a multipart joint column series on the issue of race relations in today’s America.

One thing that caught my eye was Ragland’s comment about how certain first names can hurt your employment chances:

And, Steve, what do you make of the issue of discrimination in the workplace? Are you of the mind that it doesn't exist? Change your name from Steve to Shaquille (or from Sally to Shaquana) and see how that coveted job interview goes – if you get a callback, that is.

Several comments.

First, I would be leery of hiring someone named “Billy Bob” or “Bubba,” too, Mr. Ragland.

Second, a lot of African-Americans don’t have “urban black” pseudo-African names. It would be one thing if, per your question to Steve Blow about reading black experience books, if more black Americans gave their kids actual sub-Saharan African names.

The irony is only increased in another column in the series:

Yet, whites must understand that watching Roots is far from living Roots. Black folks can't just click on the remote and change the dynamic forces of history that thrust us into the 21st century, baggage and all.

I doubt the majority blacks under the age of 21 have even SEEN “Roots.” I’ll even bet at least 20 percent of black youth 13-18 don’t even know what it is.

Third, I don’t have a problem with modern African emigrants to America using traditional first names. I think that, unlike urban blacks with made-up names, many African emigrants will adopt “majority American” first names in coming generations. In fact, it’s already happening, and not just among African emigrants. It’s south Asians, etc.

And, it’s happened in the past. Not a lot of Japanese-Americans have first names like “Hideki.” Not a lot of Italian-Americans named “Giovanni” are running around on our streets.

Fourth, at my media office, we have black and white reporters alike commenting on “urban black” names.

Fifth, isn’t it kind of hypocritical, as well as ironic, for you to weigh in on this issue with the first name of “James”?