Black History Month: What’s in a name? #ReclaimingNarratives

Black History Month: What’s in a name? #ReclaimingNarratives

My name is Lindiwe.

Before I was born, my mum, who is from the Zulu tribe in South Africa, discussed with my father the name that would best suit the mixed race child she was having.

She thought an English sounding name would be appropriate. But my white English father said ‘NO! There are so many beautiful Zulu names to pick from’; he wanted my name to reflect my mum’s heritage. So, they chose Lindiwe, which means ‘the one we have been waiting for’.

When I was born, being mixed race wasn’t as common as it is today; so many people, both black and white were keen to see the mixed race baby that was joining the family. My mum thought the name Lindiwe would suit me, especially with its meaning, but also gave me the middle name Linda, thinking that I might be picked on with a foreign sounding name and my African name might hold me back from progressing both socially or career wise.

I have never used or gone by Linda, having always confidently used Lindi or Lindiwe. I was never picked on because of my African name but I cannot say whether it has held me back.

I don’t know who people expect to see when they see the name Lindiwe Urubusi. Comments such as ‘you don’t look how I expected you to look,’ or ‘wow you look so different than who we thought was coming’ arise when people see me in comparison with my name, to which I ask ‘what do you mean by that’, but they just smile.

When I married and thought about names for my children, I too wanted to give them names that would reflect their heritage, regardless of how they are viewed by society, and thus I gave all three of my children names that reflect mine and my husband’s African heritage. We did talk about giving them an English name also, as their African name might hold them back, but like my English father said when I was born, ‘there are so many beautiful names to reflect her rich heritage’. I continued this with my children.

This Black History Month is about reclaiming the narrative.

I claim my African name with pride.

I claim the names of my children with pride.

Lucy Whitehall (she/her)

Coaching leaders to thrive through transition

3 周

Thank you for sharing your uplifting story. Names carry so much meaning and generational compassion ??

Nicki Agalamanyi

Head of Legal (Corporate) at West Northamptonshire Council

3 周

Beautiful, thank-you for sharing ??

Michael Sequeira

Recruitment at Sanctuary >> Checkout our Open Roles to Apply

1 个月

Beautiful blog and yes we all can claim so much more because of who we are and we should acknowledge it with pride and not shield or hide away from that true sense of belonging. I would love to read more of your blogs Lindi Urubusi

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