By Another Other Name Just as Sweet?

Damani Harris

Phill Branch

ENGW 103-01

2/5/16

By Any Other Name Just as Sweet?

“Ello,’ello, ‘ello, hello white American, assassinate my character,” a quote from the infamous rapper Kanye West describes how white people and white media has associated his name with an egoistical maniac. A name is one of the few things that stays with a person forever. It is both their identity and their creditability. So what happens when a person’s name is rejected by the society in which they reside in? All minorities living in America who do not posses an “acceptable name” face this problem on a daily basis in their work space, media, and themselves. Black and ethnic names are more discriminated against than traditional white names because of the value that mainstream media privileges whiteness.

The media, no matter how creditable it may be, is bias. In America, the media tends to down play people of color and praises whites. This aspect is shown explicitly through recent current events in America. Maisha Johnson, author of 8 Ways the Media Upholds White Privilege and Demonize People of Color, compares the Michael Brown killing to the boy who shot and killed people in a movie theatre. Johnson points out two distinctive facts in the way the media showcased these events: Wording and Visuals. The boy shot the theatre reads “Theatre Shooting Suspect was Brilliant Science Student,” while the Michael Brown killing reads “Michael Brown Struggled with Officer Before Shooting.” The theatre shooting shows the suspects High School Senior picture; A smiling boy with a suit on. Michael Browns picture is him standing in front of what looks like to be a run down house, no smile and holding up a gang sign. To the audience this is portraying two different stories. The boy who shot the theatre, who remains nameless, is portrayed as the innocent one because he was the “Brilliant Science Student.” Michael Brown, who was innocent, not only has his name shown for the world to see, but...