What's in a Name?
David Neeley
Financial Strategist | GenX Advocate | Executive Bourbon Steward | Army Veteran
The name you call yourself and allow others to call you is important. Personal names shape our identities, reflect our values, and influence how the world perceives us.
The Book of Daniel records a powerful example of power in a name. King Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel and his friends Babylonian names so they would accept assimilation into Babylonian culture. Though given a Babylonian name Daniel maintained a commitment to his identity and beliefs. You probably recall that his example was so staunch that he and his friends were put in a furnace to die (of course they were delivered unscathed.) This act of defiance highlights the significance of a name and the power it holds in maintaining one's cultural and personal integrity.
Similarly, the story of Nearest Green, the first known African American master distiller, underscores the importance of names. The owners of the Nearest Green Distillery choose to honor their namesake by calling him "Nearest" instead of his given name, Nathan. This decision is deeply symbolic. Nathan Green shares his name with Nathan Bedford Forrest, a founding member and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. By choosing to call him Nearest, the distillery rejects the legacy of racism, hatred, and violence associated with Forrest's name.
Instead, the Nearest Green organization embraces a culture of Love and Whiskey, celebrating the true story of Jack Daniel and master distiller Nearest Green. The Nearest Green Distillery culture is one of friendship, respect, and the ability, no matter how improbable, of people to rise to their greatness. Uncle Nearest is a man whose contributions to the whiskey industry were nearly forgotten but are now rightfully celebrated in his own name.
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In both these stories, the names chosen and used are more than mere labels. So, what's in a name? Everything. Names are declarations of identity, values, and resistance against cultural erasure. The names we embrace or reject can shape our narratives and influence our legacy.
Cheers to you, your Kith, and your Kin.
- David Neeley, Financial Strategist & Executive Bourbon Steward