If your Name is On This List, Your Identity was Stolen

Image created by the author

Let’s explore a few significant historical, social, and economic issues impacting Black Americans, many of which arise from systemic oppression, slavery, and intentional policies aimed at marginalizing communities of color. Here are some key points.

What’s in a name?

Naming something or someone usually means ownership. For many Black Americans, names were imposed during slavery, tying them to their enslavers rather than their ancestral heritage. This erasure of African names was a deliberate act of cultural destruction. Reclaiming or redefining names (adopting African or Muslim names during the Civil Rights Era) has been a form of resistance and reconnection with identity.

Know Where You Come From to Know Where You’re Going

This speaks to the importance of historical awareness. Many Black Americans have been systematically disconnected from their African and Indigenous roots due to slavery, making it harder to trace their lineage. Movements like Afrocentrism and DNA ancestry testing have sought to rebuild that connection, as understanding history is key to empowerment.

Economically Marginalized