Terynee,
East Lansing, MI.
My name is Terynee, my sister’s names are Tyani and T’Asia. These are all names my mother thought to be creative and beautiful. I love my name and both my sisters names, but when people “Try” and pronounce it, it is repeatedly devoured. I get that it is different but sometimes it is obvious people don’t try. They look at me and my name and before trying assume my mother made it up and it’s just too hard. The compliments on how I articulate myself and how professional I am despite my skin color are tiring. I have friends with fairly simple names and they are still insulted by the mispronunciations of their names. I am judged even before I am seen and able to speak. If it was not of my “articulation of words” could I be here? Would people still want to know more about me and would I still be accepted? I encourage young black women and anybody who has struggled with this to say their name clearly and with pride.
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