Erykah Badu and Baby Puma: Who’s the Daddy?

What the fuck did this bitch name her child Puma for. When are we going to stop doing this to our african-american children. sometimes different equals stupid

who cares who that baby’s daddy is and why she named her baby puma? the album drops next week and that’s all that matters!

Why did she name her child Puma. This is yet another case of when single mothers go wild. Stop with the fucked up names, you are hurting your children’s chances in life when they grow up. THINK before you do this stupid shit.

If she wants to name her child Puma then let her.  That’s not a guarantee that the child will have a twisted upbringing.

Would you two be more happy if she named her child something more traditional?  Why?  She can do what she wants.  Get a grip, people…

True, she can name her child what ever she desires and the childs upbringing can be fine but who wants the president of their company to be named PUMA? These names ARE a stike against the kids future believe it or not. Yes the child should have a more traditional name. We need to stop with the ghetto names. They ARE hurting these kids future. Get a grip Jah.

You’ve got to consider that Erykah Badu has a penchant for being non status-quo. Although her music may rock, her actions off the mic don’t exactly draw praise and well-sought after attention. That being said, — and I’m not trying to criticize the chick; as the child does grow up, we all know the first thing [conventional] society is going to do is say “Puma? What the f**k name is Puma?” Secondly, they’ll ask “Who the f**K names their child Puma?” Inevitably followed by “Who are your parents?” The sins of the father (or mother) follow a child. Now it doesn’t mean that the child will grow up all types of twisted. You can name your child Brittany and she’ll be a basket case. But the fact of the matter is, how many barons of industry, heads of state, cultural icons or otherwise are there with the names of D’Aquan, Shareeta, Noname ("No Name” as seen on birth certificate in one real scenario). She might as well named the kid Snafu, or Fubar. Again, I’m not critizing, I’m just saying.

why dont everybody mind they business?? the funny part of it is that we are all free, so she can name her children whatever she wants. its not effecting me or you so why should we care? I personally like the name, what about the people who name their children hennessy or alize or alexus, then cant even spell half the drinks they name them after! look up the meaning of puma. america needs to get it 2getha and clean out your own backyards b4 u go snoopin into others!

Lil One — As far as I knew, the definition of “Puma” was mountain lion. I concede that I don’t now it all, so I thought I’d look it up again. It still means mountain lion. Would it have been more appropriate if she named the child Snuffle Upagus? She’s a public figure. She named her child whatever she wanted to name her. Big deal. Just as she is free to name the child Battle Cat, people are and should be free to comment. It’s all just conversation.

Puma isn’t a ghetto name, it’s just unconventional.I’m sure there’s some kind of meaning to it, like everything that Erykah does. And so what about names?? Barack isn’t a conventional name and he’s about to do some big things. You guys are ignorant, pathetic and very shallow. Get a life! And go cop Erykah’s album next week while you’re at it!!!

Ms. Badu got more talent in her little toenail then y’all got in your entire ancestry. i work with a Korean woman named Cheata, so what, and to be honest, nobody gives a damn, its all about her performance.

One day y’all hatin ass bamas may be workin for for Puma.

More power to Ms. Badu, she is a poet and a visionary who is in a class by herself. As with most true artists like Coltrane, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan they rely on instincts, not society to lead them. Badu’s unconventional wisdom is what has made her so good. Hopefully mom will inspire Seven and Puma to greatness.

Just dont name ur kid Remy.

Amy, Puma is a ghetto name, anytime you name your children after numbers and sneakers you have a problem. There is a difference between unconventional and down right ghetto. LEARN THE DIFFERENCE. You are right that Barack isn’t a conventional name but it ain’t stupid either. I hope that you don’t have children, I can’t imagine what you would name them. Don’t get me wrong I am a huge Badu fan but wrong is wrong. Lil one, just because we are free to name our children what we want doesn’t mean that we should do so. WE NEED TO STOP DOING THIS TO OUR CHILDREN. But as you see there are some that think that penalizing their children with these stupid names is “being different” instead of “being dumb”. By the way, my backyard is clean, my children don’t have ignorant names. THESE NAMES ARE STRIKES AGAINST THESE CHILDRENS LIVES. Think about it!

Blambo, your logic is twisted. Did you personally ask her why she named her daughter Puma?? She has never given the exact reason but said there was meaning behind it. It’s Latin for “mountain lion.” Just because there’s a sneaker named Puma doesn’t means she named her daughter after it. And if she did, so what. You don’t know how her child’s going to turn out 20 years from now, lol. And Seven means “God,” aka “the black man” in the Nation of Gods and Earths. Check it out babycakes. You seem to think that names are hurting our children. Think again. What we need to be doing with our children is spending time with them and telling them how much we love them. That’s the problem. And I honestly don’t know what I’m going to name my child. I’ll deal with that years from now when I decide to have one. Until then, go cop Erykah’s new album on Tuesday and liberate your mind baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amy, My logic isn’t twisted at all. Ghetto names hurt our children. I don’t care what these names mean they are not names for children. WE NEED TO LEARN THIS. In my line of work I get the questions of why my people give our children these stupid names from people of other races so I am trying to stop this stupidity. You don’t know how many people are actually laughing at us and it pains me when I can’t defend my people because there is no defence for these parents (single mothers) that are doing this. You are right when you say that I don’t know how her child is going to turn out but the fact is that the child has a strike in life because she is african american and now another strike for that stupid name. There aren’t many strikes left before it is a strike out. Who wants an adult named PUMA to run their company. When Seven (7) goes to school how many children are going to tease her because she is a number not a name. What is she going to name her next child… (Foot). We need to stop this. YOU CAN HELP. By the way I already have that album. I get my stuff early and it is slammin’

I LOVE BOTH OF THE BABIES NAMES. I THINK THEY ARE CREATIVE AND UNIQUE. IF BLACK PEOPLE WOULD STOP CALLING OUR OWN ACTIONS GHETTO, WE WOULD BE DOING BETTER. PERSONALLY, DONT GIVE A DAMN WHAT A WHITE PERSON THINKS, JUST AS THEY DONT CARE WHAT WE THINK. THEY DONT STOP NAMING THEIE KIDS BECKYSUE CUZ WE LAUGH. THEY KEEP ON DOING WHAT THEY DO AND BE WHITE. AND BLAMBO, YOU HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST PATHETIC PEOPLE EVER. STOP LIVING FOR WHAT OTHERS THINK AND BE BLACK CUZ IN THE END THATS ALL YOU CAN BE. ALSO, STOP CALLING STUFF GHETTO BECAUSE A BLACK PERSON DOES IT. WHAT ABOUT GWENYTH PALTROW’S BABY NAMED APPLE. I AM SURE YOU DONT LIKE IT BUT YOU WOYLDNT CALL IT GHETTO CUZ SHE’S WHITE. IF YOU DON’T LIKE SOMETHING THAT A BLACK PERSON DOES, YOU DON’T HAVE TO EQUATE IT WITH GHETTONESS. I HAVE TWO KIDS WITH ETHNIC NAMES, KHUMARI (MEANING PRINCESS) AND SALIM (MEANING PEACE). I ACTUALLY WANTED TO NAME MY DAUGHTER ZENITH BUT HER DAD DIDN’T LIKE IT BUT IT IS NOT GHETTO BUT UNIQUE. JUST GROW UP AND STOP BEING SELF-RIGHTOUS!

You love both of these names because you fall into that ghetto mentallity and yes i did say GHETTO. I showed your coments to the people that I work with and they all laughed at how stupid you sound wanting to name your child ZENITH. Thank god for that childs father or your daughter would have been named after a fuckin’ TV. You are an idiot for even writing that for the world to see. Gwenyth Paltrow isn’t black so i don’t care about her childs stupid name. By the way that is a ghetto name. I am trying to help all these single black mothers that keep hurting their childrens future with these dumb ass names. You had a father to that child that you were going to humiliate with that name so your dumb ass was stopped. I don’t equate black with ghetto I equate being ghetto with ghetto no matter what the color. You tell me to grow up. i wasn’t about to name my child after a TV. Look in the mirror dumb ass before you tell someone to grow up.

Me: you’re totally on point with everything you said.

Blambo: You can’t squeeze knowledge out of a brick so I just give up on you. Have a blessed life babycakes. I hope you REALLY listen to this woman’s lyrics and apply it to your own life. And please support this woman come Tuesday, since you apparently pirated her album. Have a nice life sweetness. My work here is done!

Amy, Blambo don’t pirate. I am a DJ I get my shit early. Get your facts straight idiot.

haha! you’re pure comedy Blambo...now i’m an idiot, LMAO!!!! Geesh, thanks Blambo, my soul needed this laughter...i appreciate it babe:) enjoy the new CD honey. pun intended...toodles!

There was a chick up here that was going to name her child Zenith after a TV. What is wrong with the females of today. Blambo is right we need to stop the horrible naming of our children. Puma Badu can not be the name of someone important in the world. Seven Badu can not be the Vice- President of any company. Yall women need to stop that dumb stuff.

she didn’t say she was gonna name her child after a tv, and Zenith means: “the point on the celestial sphere that is directly above the observer or the point of culmination; the peak: the zenith of her career.”

look it up!

And what the f**k kind of thinking is this:

“Puma Badu can not be the name of someone important in the world. Seven Badu can not be the Vice- President of any company.”

Sad, just sad!

that is soooooo common’s baby

AMY:I AM BLAMBO IS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR SAMBO B/C THAT IS EXACTLY HOW SHE THINKS.

WE AS BLACK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT UNLIKE EVERY OTHER ETHNIC GROUP IN THE US, WE DO NOT HAVE AN HOMELAND CULTURE THAT WE CLING TO. THINK OF JEWS, HISPANICS, IRISH, EVEN AFRICANS WHO CAME HERE ON THEIR OWN WILL...THEY ALL A COMMON CULTURE AND DIFFERENT TRADITIONS THAT TIE THEM TOGETHER. AFRICAN AMERICANS, BECAUSE OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, DO NOT. WE NEED TO STOP CALLING OUR CULTURE “GHETTO”. WE HAVE HAD TO REBUILT AND RECREATE EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE AND SOME OF US ARE OUR WORST ENEMIES. WE ARE ASHAMED OF EVERYTHING THAT IS AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE LIKE CHITLINGS, CORNBREAD, GREENS, BAGGY CLOTHING, COARSE HAIR, WIDER NOSES, FULLER LIPS AND YES...NAMES LIKE KEISHA, TASHA OR WHATEVER ELSE MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS “GHETTO”.

OH AND BLAMBO: I AM SURE THE FRY COOKS AT MICKEY D’S WOULD LAUGH. WHAT TYPE OF JOB DO YOU WORK AT ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON ANYWAY?! GET A 9-5 M-F LIKE A GROWN UP AND READ A BOOK INSTEAD OF JET AND SISTER2SISTER MAGAZINE AND THEN TELL ME THE MEANING OF ZENITH, PUMA OR EVEN YOUR FAVORITE SHIT, GHETTO! YOU DUMB BITCH!!!!

FIRST TO THE IDIOT ME, I AM AN ACCOUNTANT TO DATE I HAVE GROSSED $9,126 AND THAT DOESN’T INCLUDE ALL THE BONUSES AND WE ARE ONLY IN FEBRUARY. SO FRY COOK THAT BITCH. I HAVE A CAREER, I HAVE CLIENTS, CAN YOU SAY THAT BITCH. THAT IS WHY I WORK ON WEEKENDS. FUCK A 9-5 JOB THEY DONT PAY AS MUCH. NOW HOW DO YOU FEEL?? EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAY THAT I AM SUPOSEDLY ASHAMED OF IS WHAT I LIKE EVEN THOSE NAMES TASHA AND KESHIA.. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THOSE NAMES IT’S THE PUMA’S THE DAQUAN’S THE THE TEQUILA’S THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THOSE FUCKED UP NAMES ARE NOT ARE CULTURE, THEY MAY BE YOUR LOWLIFE CULTURE BUT NOT MINE I CAN TELL I AM HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE YOUR DUMB ASS BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WORK ON WEEKENDS IS MINIMUM WAGE PEOPLE. HOW BOUT DOCTORS AND NURSES, HOW BOUT ACCOUNTANTS, HOW BOUT POLICE OFFICERS YOU STUPID ASS. I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE OUR OWN CULTURE BUT IF “GHETTO” NAMES IS IT YOU CAN KEEP YOUR LOW CLASSED CULTURE. OH BY THE WAY HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW DUMB DUMB? I WISH I COULD SEE THE STUPID LOOK ON YOUR FACE WHEN YOU READ THIS YOU LOW CLASSES ASS.

To ME, We are our own worst enemy. Everytime we punish one of our children with the dumb ass “GHETTO” names we are showing them how much we care about their future. To read people read, nobody cares about the meaning of ZENITH all people are going to think about is the TV not that meaning. The thinking behind the comments about the names Puma and Seven being a VP or important is only the truth. If you give your kids a stupid name like that they already have a strike against them in life. Like it or not.

YEAH RIGHT, BLAMBO...YOU ARE A JOKE. 2ND SHIFT CASHIER DOESN’T MAKE YOU AN ACCOUNTANT. JUST MAKE SURE MY MCGRIDDLE IS ON POINT NEXT TIME AND KEEP THE TEA SWEET. YOUR GRAMMAR IS TERRIBLE AND YOU DO NOT COME OFF AS HIGHLY EDUCATED. BUT WHATEVER...I REALLY HOPE YOU DECIDED TO READ MORE AND SPEAK LESS TO ENSURE YOU HAVE SOME TYPE LEG FOR YOU OPINION TO STAND ON. PEACE!

BITCH STOP TELLING ME WHAT YOUR MOTHER DOES FOR A LIVING. YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS BECAUSE YOU AIN’T ME. I BET YOU PUT YOUR FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOUR GHETTO ASS FOUND OUT WHAT I DO. I PROBABLY MADE MORE NOW THEN YOUR 5 CHILD HAVING ASS WILL MAKE ALL YEAR. SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GO BABYSIT ALL THOSE KIDS YOU DUMB BITCH.

I have read the post on this board and what saddens me is that it seems that these BLACK WOMEN think that these rediculous names are somehow BLACK CULTURE. What else saddens me is that there is no end in sight to this abuse. I really wish these women would start to think. Though he is harsh BLAMBO is right these names are ruining our childrens chances in life but these women will never get it. Barack isn’t a conventional name yet he isn’t named after numbers, sneakers, animals, or TV’s. You can be different without damaging your child. I too hope for change someday.

So, you admit, Barack isn’t a conventional name. That proves my point that people who don’t have “normal” names can attain success just like everyone else. But they just have to watch out for some of the narrow-minded people who’ve posted on this board. I know a girl named Christmas (yes Christmas) who owns her own business and is doing pretty well for herself.  Now how about that?

To read people read, that doesn’t prove your point at all. I also said after that that his name was different not ghetto. I’ll say it again, you can be different without being ghetto. As for Christmas, which is different but not ghetto, owning her own business, that is what the DaQuan’s, the Puma’s, the Listerene’s, the Sheneneh’s, and the Zenith’s should do because they are destined to work at Wal-Mart with those names. Ghetto names are not black culture it is ghetto culture and hopefully one day soon these ignorant women will recognize this. If you own a business you can have any name that you want because people work for you so that is a situation that doesn’t fit in this category. THESE NAMES DO HURT, WAKE UP PEOPLE and stop penalizing your children.

Blambo, I’m going to borrow a line from Amy, “You can’t squeeze knowledge out of a brick so I just give up on you.”

You have a right to your opinion, no matter how absurd it is. I am not going to sit here beat this horse to death.

However, I am glad you are enjoying Erykah’s new CD! I will be purchasing on Tuesday:)

To read people read, I am going to take a line from Concerned Black Man, “It saddens me that black women think that these ghetto names are Black culture.” I guess you women will just keep punishing your children. Anyway, Amy doesn’t know what our culture is she’s white. By the way the CD is hot!

“Anyway, Amy doesn’t know what our culture is she’s white.”

Um, have you confirmed this Blambo? Just curious. I knew of a few black Amy’s growing up, lol.

And just for the record, Puma sounds a bit more exotic than “ghetto.” But of course you’ll say I’m wrong because you’re obviously an expert on “ghetto culture.”

**yawns and stretches**

But anyways, let me get back to my real life, where there’s meaning, fulfillment and soon, a new Badu CD to bump to and digest.

Peace and blessings Blambo:)

You are right naming your child after a sneaker sounds very exotic. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? That is what you are going for when you name you children after numbers, appliances, animals and sneakers. This should be child abuse to stop this ignorance because you guys just won’t get it. Thank god I was able to be there for my children. We need more blsck men like me to supervise the naming of our children because these women are sad. Anyone naming their children these names really can’t care about their children. Piece and blessings to you too.

I wonder how you’re going to react if you travel the world, if you havn’t already, and you hear different, unconventional names. You won’t know how to react, lol.

And seriously, we need more black men like you to SPEND time with our children, and to TELL them how marvelous they are, and SHOW them how great they can become, and to LISTEN to them. THAT’S what we need black men to do, or at least the ones that aren’t doing their jobs. If you are, give yourself a pat on the back. Listen to Jill Scott’s song, “I Need You.” She sums it all up in their. Peace!

If I travel the world I wouldn’t expect a china man to have an american name. Thats not my issue my issue is the shit that they do in the hood not all over america. These women should be banned from having children.

Blambo, you should be banned from thinking. I AM an African-American woman. Please put that new Erykah CD to good use and free your mind!

SAMBO:YOU DEFINITELY CANNOT TRICK ME INTO THINKING YOU ARE A MAN. I KNOW YOU’RE NOT B/C OF HOW EMOTIONAL YOU ARE ABOUT THIS PETTY TOPIC. I HAVE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT YOU SHOULD OPEN YOUR MIND TO THINGS OUTSIDE OF YOUR NARROW SCOPE OF VIEW. WITH YOUR WAY OF THINKING, I COULD INFER THAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO ANYTHING THAT IS AGAINST STATUS QUO. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN FREEDOM, THATS FREEDOM TO DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE FROM GAY MARRIAGE, A MOTHERS RIGHT TO CHOOSE ABORTION AS AN OPTION, EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL AND EVEN THE RIGHT TO NAME YOUR CHILD AS YOU FEEL. YOU KEEP SAYING THAT SOMEONE IS NAMING THEIR CHILD AFTER A SNEAKER, A NUMBER OR A TELEVISION BUT YOUR NARROW SCOPE OF VIEW IS UNABLE TO SEE THE ENTIRE MEANING OF THE NAME. NAMES SHOULD REFLECT THE SPIRIT OF THE CHILD AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THEM AS A SOUL ON THIS EARTH. EVEN COMMON NAMES LIKE MICHAEL, JOHN OR MARY HAVE SIGNIFIGANCE. I REALLY HATE WHEN PEOPLE TALK OUT THE SIDE OF THEIR NECKS WITH PURE OPINION. THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN A NAME THAT IS ETHNIC, UNIQUE AND PLAIN GHETTO. YOU USE THE TERM SO LOOSELY TO DESCRIBE YOUR OWN PEOPLE. ERYKAH IS FAR FROM GHETTO AND I ADNIRE HER FOR BEING FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF CONVENTIONAL THINKING. JUST LISTEN TO THE SONG “LIBERATION” ON THE OUTKAST ALBUM AQUEMINI AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND.

OH AND I AM FAR FROM GHETTO. I AM MARRIED WITH 2 BEAUTIFUL PROUD BLACK CHILDREN AND I HAVE A GREAT CAREER IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIELD WITH A MORE THAN AVERAGE SALARY AND I AM ONLY 24 YEARS OLD. I AM THE KIND OF WOMEN YOU COULD NEVER GET.

To Me, I’m at work right now I’ll deal with your ghetto ass when I get home. To Amy, I’ll also deal with your white as when I get home. Yeah right you are african-american. That’s funny.

Hmmm, let me see, because I have passion about getting my race out of the gutter I am a female? How dumb are you? I am also a firm believer in freedom but not stupidity and that is what is going on with these stupid females. You believe in a mothers right to choose, so do I but when they aren’t smart enough not to do these types of things to these children they should have those rights stripped away from them. You say that I keep saying that these chicken heads are naming their children after TV’s and sneakers and numbers that is because that is exactly what they are doing. Later for the spirit, later for the meaning these chicks are reaching too far to find names for their children and it is backfiring. I don’t use the term “GHETTO” to describe my people, I use it to describe the acts that they are doing. The only one using it to describe black people is you dumb ass. I admire Mrs. Badu for being free too but I don’t admire her for what she is doing to her children. Now as for you not being ghetto… You are 24 and you already have 2 kids...THAT’S GHETTO… Be honest, how many of them are you husbands? I bet they both aren’t cause that is how it is in the GHETTO. You are right I could never get a woman like you because I don’t want a woman with a load of kids by different fathers. Last, what are their names? I would really like to hear this shit!

Both of my children are with my husband and I have stated their names previously...you are really either a silly, dizzy female or a fag...either way, very pathetic. I am not arguing with you for any longer, I have spent too much time explaining simple shit to you...Not to judge others or ridicule them because they have a difference in opinion from you. You have to understand that the world doesn’t have to agree with you but you do have to respect others differences in opinion. Calling our own people ghetto for something so trival is distasteful. I am very curious to hear your damn name!!! Since you like Keisha and Tasha but have a problem with a name with meaning. Please read a book between your customers at McDonald’s and maybe you could speak to me again, but with some substance. Peace again…

now watch this miserable fag right something ignorant back again.................

Me: Girl, just leave Blambo alone, lol. You don’t owe anyone (but your children) an explanation as to why you gave them their beautiful names. You just can’t get through to people like Blambo, and that’s OK. People like him feel comfortable in a box or bubble. They thrive off of their narrow-minded views and that’s OK, for their world. Girl, use your energy and time on something more useful, like listening to that marvelous music that Erykah will finally bless us with tomorrow:)

To me, I see that you are interested in someone being a fag, do you have something to tell your husband??? I was never arguing with your dumb ass anyway, I am to intellegent to argue with a telemarketer. You are probably that dumb ass bitch that is calling my house with your fake charities asking for donations. Oh yeah, thats right you said your childrens names were Sylvania and Zenith. How ghetto. lol! Come on with the customers at McDonalds joke you know better than that. Besides that is getting old and your just telling us what you did for the day. I don’t have to respect opinions when they are as stupid as the GHETTO opinions that you and the white girl give. When you have your next baby by the next father why don’t you get a book of baby names so you can stop naming your children after appliances and then getting mad when someone tells you how stupid they sound. Now to the white girl, shut the fuck up… your white. I hope your children don’t have ghetto names that would be real tragic. The world would be real confused about you…

yall are toooooooo funny

who cares????

blamo u are a dark secret in ur closet

this is america we are free to do as we please

im sure sojourner, tiger, beyonce, condoleeza, barack, oprah, shaquille, and countless other PROUD BLACK AFRICAN AMERICANS are making a damn name for them selves! and who’s laughing at them????

so ur self a favor and stop with the nonsense. 
people are putting too much time and effort in to something as simple as a name!

puma is adorable...but the name sounds like pumba from the lion king. And the baby daddy is common… I wish!!!!!!!  Lolz

andre 3000

I wonder if when Gwenyth Paltrow named her baby Apple, there was this much debate about it amongst the white folks.

Deep down inside I don’t believe there was because in the circles that Gwenyth travels, it doesn’t matter. She comes from old money and money talks while bullshit [names like Apple] walks.

I don’t know that you can really put Sojourner into this type of discussion. Slave owners back then named their slaves conventional and aesthetically phonetic names that had no connection to the spirit. For Isabella Baume to transform herself and her spirit into Sojourner Truth transcends this discussion by epics. But as far as the Tigers, the Beyonce’s, the Condoleeza’s, Barack’s, Oprah’s and Shaquille’s… these were people who inspite of humble beginnings have become worthy commodities and world resources. WORLD RESOURCES. No one is laughing at them because they’re too rich to be laughed at.

African Americans have survived the diaspora. We’re still here. Does that mean that we should not attempt to establish as fine an African American culture as possible?  Shouldn’t what we name our children be a testament to our greatness in the face of a world community that watches us as we re-emerge from the adversity that has held us down for so long?

If being African American were a nationality— what would be our Gross Domestic Product? As a nation of African American people’s what export do we have to offer the world that we can stand behind? What brand can the rest of the world take seriously and receive with confidence? As it stands, we have hip-hop and that’s making money for the artists and for the people who’ve signed the artists (who in most cases happen to be white). How does the revenue from our GDP benefit us? How has the propagation of this.... socio-economic structure really lifted us across the board?  I don’t think any of these questions can be answered or answered satisfactorily.

Unfortunately, next to hip-hop, our greatest gross domestic product is our children. Our children are our brand, our children are our legacy. In the face of a world that has watched us rise and fall and rise again, there is an expectation that we should be greater than what we are. Why? Because we’ve already set the bar. We’ve overcome and overcome and overcome. The world already has Puma’s, and Zenith’s. And as brands, these names have already etched out equity for themselves as consumer brands. Shouldn’t our children have the opportunity to be their own brand and bear their own individuality?

The world community generally knows the difference between an African name versus an African-American name versus a Muslim name. Now the thing is, Africans and Muslims have practically been around forever. Each, respectively has contributed resources the world can’t get along without, including, diamonds, gold, iron, oil, sugar, coltan (for the manufacture of silicone used in everything electronic), and mathematics. African Americans on the other hand have been around roughly, 500 years. Although we’ve made many contributions in our day, we’ve made no significant advancements or recognized as much growth as we have with hip-hop.  And the world sees this. And the world says to us, “So what else have you got?” Our reply is “We’ve got Puma.” “We’ve got Zenith.” The world says, “We already have those. What else?” When we say “We’ve got Keisha, Shareeka, T’Quan and Mookadine,” the world says “What are they? What do they do? And why do I need them?”

Depending on what we name our kids answering these questions may be a walk in the park in the way of achieving success in life. We’re not an African-American peoples unto ourselves. We’re African-Americans in a worldly society. We don’t need to be the Flavor Flavs of the world. We need to be the Baracks of the world. We need to be the Meneliks of the world. We need to be the Ellen Sirleaf-Johnsons of the world.

Once we’ve restored the prestige of what it means to be black to what it means to be African American can we then entertain the novelty of naming our children how freely we feel they should be named. But until such time comes, though we live a freely governed nation, we are not free. We are bound by the chains of our own indignation.

What hurts me is the abuse we are hurtling at each other over differences in opinions. Naming our children is an important topic, however each person’s destiny is molded by the choices they make. So even if anyone thinks Puma is a dumb name, in the end, what she accomplishes is what will be important.

In this week’s Jet magazine, Erykah says that in the astrological star system, Puma means “purity and balance.” And she confirmed that Puma’s father is the rapper D.O.C. That’s all!

Who cares, my man is right, that was some ghetto as shit she did.

Check out the Jet Magazine article
What Sister Badu and her circle of family are instilling in these children far exceeds the topic of this battle, it is not even a discussion.  The attitudes and badgering that you young people are throwing at one another-particularly the young man- is disgraceful.  Show some respect.  As a group of people the separation is indicative of what I call ghetto.  Come on young folks, you are calling one another out of your names and that’s not ghetto.  Read the article, there are far bigger problems within our communities than what someone has named their children.  We are all children of the Creator and no matter what our names are we were all born with the tools to be successful in life. Instead of ridiculing single mothers we need to be helping.  Be of service to others...and before we can do that we have to mind our own houses.

Get the album…

To all of you above who disagree that erykah should have not named her child Puma are empty headed, you all need to respect her creativity the only person who should have anything to say is Puma on how she feels about her name and that is all erykah is worried about. And anyway you all would probably have rathered her to name her daughter shakita and shakeisha and bonequisha because more than likely you’re going to name your children these stupid names and these are the names that will prevent the children of today to get good paying jobs and etc.... so shut up!

EVEN THE GREAT BILL COSBY HAS SAID THAT THESE STUPID NAMES THAT WE ARE GIVING OUR CHILDREN ARE HURTING THEM. WHEN ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED BLACKS IN THE WORLD IS SAYING THIS WE NEED TO START LISTENING. THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD TELLING THESE WOMEN THAT THESE NAMES ARE REDICULOUS BUT THESE WOMEN ARE TOO “INDEPENDENT” TO GET IT. I HAVE TO ECHO THE BLAMBO AND SAY THAT THIS NEEDS TO STOP. THESE NAMES DO TAKE AWAY FROM THE KIDS CHANCES IN LIFE. YES, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THESE KIDS CAN ALSO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE BUT THESE NAMES AREN’T HELPING. ERYKAH BEING HER CHILDRENS MOTHER IS GOING TO EASE THE PAIN OF HER CHILDRENS NAMES BUT THE AVERAGE MOTHER THAT GIVES THEIR CHILDREN THESE “UNCONVENTIONAL” NAMES, AS SOME OF YOU CALL THEM, CAN’T SUPPORT THEIR KIDS FINANCIALLY LIKE ERYKAH BADU CAN. QUESTION TO THESE MOTHERS: HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF YOU WERE IN SCHOOL AND THE TEACHER IS CALLING ATTENDANCE AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE TEACHER CALLING YOUR NAME EVERYONE STARTED TO LAUGH? WE REALLY NEED TO THINK BEFORE WE DO THIS TO OUR CHILDREN.

Lets give Erykah the respect we all know she deserves
Yes it may be a brand name
and it is unfortunate that a corporation has co-opted the name of a gorgeous creature
but that does not mean we can’t take it back
Praise erica for naming her daughter after both a beautiful animal and a beautiful flower (it’s Puma Rose btw)
i know she did not name that child after the wrong runing stripes
yall are being dumb

True she didn’t name her child after a sneaker but we all know that is the first thing that is going to come into peoples head. This is not being dumb this is being realistic. We have to think before we do this to our kids.

Truly. That Blambo states over and over again that this is something single mothers do is ridiculous. I’ve gone to school with some people who had truly ignorant name, and educated married parents. So what does that mean. It is a name, if you want to change something be sure that you and yours don’t give the children born to you ignorant names. Also, a DJing accountant who works on a saturday afternoon is a busy person, wow Blam.

And, many of you are right there are many names being forced on children that are ridiculous, but don’t put all of that on the shoulders of single mothers. It’s not a race, culture or marital status thing it’s a fact that birth certificates should not be filled out until everyone is sure that the drugs have worn off. So why not stop the dumb ass argument and just admit. You dig Badu’s music, her creativity, somebody shoulda told her tail no when she got ready to name that girl Puma. It isn’t any of our business who knocked her up.

To the post above, sorry to tell you that this is a race thing, this is a single mother thing. I heard the story about Bill Cosby saying the same thing that I am saying. This is a black thing. I didn’t just wake up one morning and say that single mothers do this, I have done my research. MOST of the time that this happens this is a single mother that thinks her child is a doll instead of a human being and gives them a stupid name. Case and point the idiot that was going to name her child “ZENITH” until her husband stopped her. I realize that this is 1 case but there are thousands like this. I figure 2 people together 1 of them will be smart enough to say stop but unfortunately there are a lot of women choosing to have babys from one night stands and booty calls and here come these ghetto names. I do agree with you on one thing, I do dig Badu’s music.

There must be some truth to this being a single mother thing. How many men have you heard defending these names. Just something to think about!

How many men have you seen actually give birth to babies???

Just because you are having the babies doesn’t give you the right to give them stupid names. There was a FEMALE AFRICAN-AMERICAN College professor on one of the morning shows saying that we must stop doing this to our children. She said herself that if she was looking in a phone book for a doctor and saw one with a ghetto name right or wrong she would probably pass that doctor by BASED ON NAME ALONE. Now we have Bill Cosby and a high ranking college professor saying these things. When is it time to start listening? YOU ARE HURTING YOUR WHOLE RACE WITH THESE NAMES PEOPLE! STOP IT!

I wish the name Puma would stop being referred to as a sneaker’s name. It goes to show how little we know about much of anything. Puma is a type of cougar and also the name of a hindu goddess. Get out and read sometimes while you are trying to knock folks for naming kids out of the ordinary. Look how stupid you look.

So I am guessing that Puma is not the name of a sneaker in your world. That is a dumb name weather you like it or not. I don’t know why women are so hooked on giving their children ignorant names and then searching for a meaning for it. These women are searching too far for a different, usually stupid, name. Where are the fathers of these children? Just because you feel it is ok to give your children horrible names doesn’t mean that we cant stand up against this stupid shit. Look how ghetto you look.

Lets face it, no matter how much we try to HELP these women they are always going to ghettofy their children with these names. This is why I think that it should be a man and a woman that decide to have a child. As the woman on this site has stated. “How many men are having these babys.” By that statement she clearly feels that the child is hers and not the father’s but the minute child support comes into play I’ll bet that she will be wanting it. So sad that they will never get it.

Here is a list of ghetto names:
*Markeisha
*Laqwandra
*Shawntrelle
*Dayvida
*Pooh
*Boo, Boo-Boo
*Markeiyana
*Lavitra
Did I list your Ghetto- ass name yet?
Puma is a wild cat, a fierce creature of nature. I would never challange a “puma” but I wiil beat the ass of a “Laquita”

You did a very good job on your ghetto names but yu forgot one...PUMA!!! HAMMERHEAD is a great shark would you name your child that?

WILBUR!!!!

LOL!!!!!

The name may be willy nilly but it sure as hell isn’t ghetto.

It’s not ghetto but country as hell! LOL!!

It may be country but name me a famous Daquan, Puma, Laquandra, Tequilla, and so on and so on. I can live with my country name but these ghetto ones are rediculous.

Stop the maddness, previous posters are saying that Single Black mothers are naming there children Ghetto ass names--- come on --- I’m a single parent—dad is still around-- I didn’t name my daughter a ghetto name , Danielle after a friend and I also don’t dress her in Baby Phat and Rockwear or Apple bottoms, or any hoochie clothing.  Sure getting the call back for the job is crucial-- however going for the interview can still hurt your chances of getting the job, If your black Or even very black.  Think about it sometimes being black means your damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I’m a teacher and i see a lot of names-- some call them ghetto and yes i secretly think that about some. But when I look at there bright eyes I realize what will be will be I hope to give them inspiration and tell them that you can be all you can be.

So, now that the kids are named—ghetto names as some say-- who is giving up there time? since some are so concerned about how these kids will now be able to market them selves? 

pls beautiful black people lets realize we can not change any one’s opinion and lets not disrespect each other.
this SHit is getting embrassing- we all work, no matter where it is!  many peace and blessings i love you all and you dont even know it !!!!!!!!!!!! Nicole

Congratulations, Erykah, on a fabulous new thought-provoking, “in-your-face” political and spiritual work of art with your New Amerykah Fourth World War CD. I salute you for the awesome continuance of your creativity, I respect you for mothering two beautiful and beautifully named children, Seven and Puma, and I continue to support you by recommending and purchasing your music. Continue evolving, my sister.
Anna,
Sister in Europe

Alas! Someone with good sense:)

I am actually glad that this topic has come up because this needs to be addressed. We need to think about the children when we name them. Not just be selfish and think about ourselves. It is the children that have to live with these names not the parents.

do you really care about what names people choose for their kids? i have met doctors with names that were very ethnic or what you would classify as down right ghetto-- lawyers too.  they find a way around it-- example laquanda april trenton-- Dr.L April Trenton or L.April Trenton--- Whatever , its about marketing chnge the view not your name.  Its done quit crying . the naming wont stop you stll laugh and cll it ghetto.  and they wll stll raise their kids. and mostly likely find a job, even if you wouldnt hire them, Some will some wont so what ----- This shouldnt be a subject, what about black on black violence, proverty the election? darfur ? shit… this issue is played out—been snce the 90’s once again befre you ask yes i am a parent and yes i named my daugther—Danielle—but i do respect everyone ideas althoug i dont agree with them this issue should not be at the fore front.

peace, Nicole

This is part of the problem in our race we only care about our own not realizing that these names hurt all of us not just the child that is being named the names. For every one name like the one you mentioned there are at least 50 that don’t squeeze through the cracks. Yes most of them will find jobs but if you are counting all the ones that are going to be stuck working at K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and Burger King then yes most will find jobs but I am talking about careers not jobs for these children. This definately should be a subject so most of these people that are damaging the children with these “cultural names” will wake and stop adding to the downfall of our race. If this has been an issue since the 90’s and it is still around that should tell some of these people something. If you respect everyones decision that is your choice but I can’t respect stupidity. To all the Shaquanna’s, Tequilla’s, Shenehneh’s, and all the other ghetto named children I apologize for the ignorance in our race, blame your parents and all in your race that support this shit, also start to change this by naming your children smartly.

To the woman that was going to name her child after a TV. Thank god that you were stopped.

Here is a clue for you to know that your childs name is ghetto. When you have to explain the definition of your childs name after you tell someone the childs name, the child shouldn’t have it. Just a friendly reminder people.

to the post above-- Daddy saved the day-- no i don’t just care about my own children.  i teach i care about all children.  i care about what they eat, although they are not mine.  i care about how they dress, and how they speak.  even how they were their hair. as a race, i wish black women would stop relaxing their hair-- not going to happen just like naming of the kids is not going to stop happening.  people keep saying our race and our kids our culture.  oh really some dont care to know there real culture or look like their real ethinicity. but to each his or her own.  i just think that some of the parents whom have given their child the names may actually like them. even if no one else does and while teaching i learned something else… some one the parents cant read or write.  one parent explained to me her life struggles and told me that she named her daughter danyell—danielle like my daughter but had to find a way to spell it.  thats sad i wont knock them. yes i respect their right i cant beat my views into them.  Hell, the American people told Bush fuck you we dont want you and guess what he said oh well-- just like the parents wll continue to—oh and yes this subject is so 90’s just like crack, gang violence and racial profiling--

there are Tom’s, Heather, Dick, Becky and Jan’s that take my order at mcdonalds or bag my groceries at jewel’s and even get me a price check at walmart. 

but i understand your view.

I happen to think that Daddy did save the day in that case. I really think you are not the norm with most of these women on this post. No comments that anyone makes are 100% so nobody is probably speaking on you. You said that some parents may like these names but they need to think about the children and not about themselves. I would never give a child of mine a name it I thought noone else would like it. Like it has been said before the parents need to think about the child’s future not themselves. Not you, but these women need to get over their ghettoism and try to assist in their childrens future. To you I say keep doing our race proud and have a good night. To the rest of them, including the person that was going to name her child ZENITH, I say stop this shit. PLEASE!!!

To the people that are saying this isn’t an important topic: This is a topic that is well over due. We do need to stop with the “names with meaning” or “cultural names” as they are being called. Our race is being laughed at and it is our whole race when parents give their children these names. We all end up trying to defend you when you do this to your children. I personally am tired of trying to defend what you do. I am constantly asked why “we” do this to our children and I have to seperate myself from these parents and constantly say that it’s not me that is doing that and I usually get back that it’s black people that is why I am being asked. So you see we are all affected by these names. Just think about everything before you name your children. that’s all.

Thank you Sharon, now I hope that stupid white chick and the one who was going to name her child after a TV are reading this. STOP THE DUMB SHIT LADIES!

There ain’t nothing beautiful about them names. What are your kids names? Or should I say what your kids names is? Maybe now I’m speaking your language.

This conversation is still going on?  It’s been almost a month. I’ve put more than my share of two cents in— God knows I have, but you know what.... the kids already have these names. We gotta do like Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions and just “Keep on Pushing.”

If you haven’t already and this goes out to everyone, you should pickup W.E.B. DuBois’ “The Souls of Black Folk.” That should end all this discussion.

This just shows that this is a more important topic than previously thought. We do have to keep pushing but part of the keep pushing is change. We have to stop stamping the ghetto on our children as soon as the come out of the womb. I personally thank god that this topic has come to light maybe some of these parents will think before doing this. I understand when you say the kids already have these names but we are trying to get it right for the future children. I wish we could stop but some of these people need to be challenged on this or they wil just keep having children and giving them these names. Change is needed.

most of you have made valid points but one thing no one has brought up is this: Of course your gonna think that a name like “puma” iis strange b/c u live in america where they tell you that names like “jessica” and “amanda” are “acceptible”
but in other countries, they may think those names are strange.. and on a more important note.... technically my name is Antoinette… which is french… but i am not french and i am not european..... so that is not my name.... it is my “slave name” b/c if slavery never happened ... antoinette would never be my name..... it wouldnt even be in the english language. i say all this to say… for thos of u that think that funny names = incompetance… i dont blame you b/c they have put black people down and made us hate ourselves so much..... that includes ur REAL names! so no wonder u hate PUMA and SEVEN u cant help it b/c they make u feel that wthout their names and their beliefs u are INCOMPETENT!

To Stymuli,

I absolutely respect that change is needed, and providing that you read my two lengthy posts during the beginning of this dialogue nearly a month ago, you’ll see that I echo your comments.

At the same time however, I feel that as a black person myself, having watched in my black lifetime where African-American culture has been and where it’s going… I have to ask myself whether or not all the dialogue and heated debate accomplishes anything or whether or not all of that energy should simply be put towards something else.  You know what I mean?

Something dangerous has happened to black people within the span of the last 40 years. We’ve collectively allowed ourselves to become victims of our own circumstance. Choosing to acknowledge our plight rather than fight it. It’s dangerous and it’s draining.

Change is needed. But change is something profoundly personal. Ultimately change depends on whether or not you (we as a nation of African-Americans) are willing to act on it or spin our wheels in intellectually-masturbatory debate. I whole-heartedly agree with you. Change is needed.

My friend showed me this at work and I need to put my two cents in because this “name game” is ridiculous. My name is of East African origin and means ‘power.’ I’ve been successful in my career and my life, with an unorthodoxed name like Sharon, Jessica or William. And as a productive American citizen, I have to say that there are more pressing things going on in the black community than a “ghetto.” If you don’t think so, open your eyes. I mentor local college students and work with them on business etiquette and money management so they can have somewhat of a foundation when they graduate. That, to me, is more important than the debate over a “ghetto” name. (And what’s so “Ghetto” about ‘Puma’ and ‘Seven’ anyway?? They’re more unconventional names that don’t fit in with the ‘Beckys’ and ‘Johns’ of the world, but so what? Who really cares?) It’s so sad that you all want to fit in sooooo bad. You’ll do anything for YT to like you, heck, you’ll lick his ass crack for acceptance. You turn your nose up at anything afrocentric/different/unconventional/out-the-box and celebrate all these Europeanized names and holidays that weren’t even made for you. But you celebrate them to fit in. Wake up, people! Wake THEE HELL up! It’s MUCH DEEPER than a got dam name! MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH deeper!! And you’re IGNORANT if you don’t think so. Open your minds and live and think outside the box.

And to people downing the lady who wanted to name her baby Zenith, so what? All you have to do is look it up or ask her what it means. Besides, it’s her child and her business. Just like Erykah’s Halle named her baby Nahlah. Not conventional but it’s her business. People are so caught up in these celebrity’s lives that it’s funny. Like they care about you and what you think, lol.

WAKE UP PEOPLE! WAKE UP!!!

Hauli,

Ok. What are the more pressing things going on? Lack of opportunity among [the majority] of blacks? The disparate ratio of blacks versus whites imprisoned in America? The growing rate of illiterate [black] children across the nation? The super-gang pandemic sweeping our nation’s inner cities? Whose to say what is more pressing and what is relatively more important or not?

You’re name is of East African origin— and that’s cool. Fortunately for you, your name carries the weight of heritage and culture. Although “Zenith” and “Puma” have strong literal definitions, just like you said, “No one cares.” All they see is what’s culturally relevant. And in these United States where capitalism is key, “Zenith” means TV and “Puma” means athletic shoe.  You said it yourself— you’re successful.  But how successful are the children named Alize, Lexus, Puma and Zentih going to be in a capitalistic society/economy? Especially one where the gross domestic product is dwindling?

You’ve made a poignant point. You are clearly educated which means you’ve received higher education. Why? Was it not to “fit in” to a more global society? Not necessarily a white one, but a functioning society? Conversely, the colleges that your mentees attend, who runs those colleges? Who sits on the board of regents, college admissions office and bursars/registrars offices at these colleges? Barring HBCU’s, is it not “YT?”

Here’s a rhetorical question. I’m going to assume your name is pronounced [Hah-oo-LEE] or [Ah-OO-lee]. When you introduce yourself to [ignorant] people. What do they say? Do they say, “Wow, what an interesting name,” or “That’s a unique name,” or even “What a pretty name”? I’m willing to bet that’s what happens when people meet your for the first time.  How do you perceive that conversation progresses for someone with a perceptively “Ghetto” name?  Not so well.

America isn’t even receptive to immigrants with names that are as some overly-proud Americans would say, “a mouthful.” Think about it. When the Jews came to Ellis Island over from Israel, Russia, Germany and the lot with names like Yankelbaum, Schpitzer and Frankenheimer, the customs agents, trucated the names, shortening them to Yankel, Spitzer and Franken.

Originality is cool. As an [visual] artist I’m all for it. But taking creative license with your kids life makes about as much sense as dangling your kids from a hotel window.

Furthermore, there is a difference, wouldn’t you say, between Halle Berry an influential, academy-award winning actress, global superstar and millionaire naming her child Nahlah, (also the name of Simba’s Lioness in the lion king) and some chick from around the way who hasn’t graduated high-school and can’t read naming her child “Adidas.” I exaggerate, but do you see my point?

Halle Berry, Gwenyth Paltrow and Erykah Badu don’t care what we think and that’s cool. To them it doesn’t have to matter. They for all intents and purposes aren’t “regular” people. They don’t face the [same] everyday challenges “regular” people do.

So when we wake up as you’re telling us to do, and we open our eyes to the more pressing things; when we start thinking out the box, what do we do about the Nixzmary Browns being overlooked by teachers and welfare workers while being beaten to death by parents who named them so?

How deep is it? Is it 500 years deep? Is it slave-masters renaming slaves after themselves deep? Is it as deep as slave ship captains renaming slaves for easy inventory? Or is it as deep as Ancient Islamic East Africans enslaving other Africans and changing their names deep?

I’m afraid it’s not so easy as “waking up.” I’m afraid that the box you’re telling us to live and think out of is an abstract construct as old as time; a construct relative to each and every society. If you think you can live in Islamasbad and name your child “Becky” and she’ll have a glowing future, that’s something that isn’t going to happen. The box we live in is America where even the luxury of naming your child whatever you want is something reserved for the elite, the influential, the powerful and those protected by them.

America would sooner help Indonesians affected by Tsunamis than they would black people affected by Katrina. What makes you think they would accept African-Americans with name-brand names rather than non-Americans with cultural ones?

To bring my point home, when we African-Americans wake up and start thinking and living outside the box, when we start acknowledging the “deeper stuff” and stop being ignorant, what would you have us do? Simply mind our own business?

Seems to me we’ve been minding our own business individually and on level of black nationalism since we “got free”. Maybe it’s no wonder why we’re confused about whether our culture is a[n lost] African one rich in heritage of kings and queens or a hip-hop culture where other people get rich off our materialism.

Interesting.

Stymuli is the good cop about this I am the bad cop. I have sat around long enough and watched these people, namely single mothers, do this to their children. Hauli, yes you do have a different name but that is because you are from East Africa so you are excluded from the “name game.” These names that I am talking about people are saying that they are our (black) culture and that is just not true. As I have stated before there is nothing wrong with being different but these people are reaching too far to be different and it is penalizing children. There are more topics that are more important than this but for now this is the topic and Black people don’t realize how important this is. These people are playing with their childrens future like their children are toys. The best thing that I have read on this site is that if you have to follow telling someone your childs name with the definition, the child shouldn’t have god damn name. That is so true. Bottom line is that until we get this our children will be punished.

Blambo, you have expressed your concern for the children of these parents who feel that creating a unique name is clever and has no impact upon their futures.  There is a guy name Booker T. Jones, III who created a Website that will allow anyone to type in their name and then they can choose a special meaning to each letter in that name.  That way they can tell their child that they named him/her because the name means something special. Go to http://www.Speacher.com and click on “Create Name Positivity”. Then type a name in the RED box, click on Name Positivity and some words will be attached to each letter of the name.  Click Review they the name info can be printed out or copied and pasted. Let me know what you think.  I thought it might help if at least those unique names had a meaning.

Richard

Badu has a son named Seven Sirius Benjamin born in 1997 with ex-partner André 3000 of OutKast fame. On July 5, 2004, Badu gave birth to a daughter, Puma Rose, in her Dallas home. The father of her second child is West Coast rapper The D.O.C.. She also dated rapper Common from 2000 to around 2002.

What’s very silly of finger pointing “progressives” is to ASSume her daughter would be the president of someone else’s anything. That seems as foot shuffling as naming a black child becky and expecting this society to accept them. Why do black people that think they are more conscious, more cultured, more black have to assume those who aren’t as narrow minded as they are lack sense. In essence you’re just as counter productive as thug/hoodlum. Always have to have this let me go along so “they” will let me be a (fill in the blank) of their (fill in the blank). Let her daughter keep the name. Let’s name our kids what the hell we want and also raise them to be the CEOs of their own. The presidents of their own. Hell, teach them to be owners.

Eclectic, please tell me that isn’t your name. No wonder you are defending that dumb shit, you’ve been punished with that name. If anyone is countrer productive that would be your parents trying to be “different” and screwing you up with that name. But as others have said you people just won’t get it and you guys just keep making the point louder and clearer. Now there’s a name that should be followed up with the meaning. So sad…

Richard I hear what you are saying but these “names with meanings” as they are being called, are getting our race laughed at and talked about like nobody would believe. I know the correct thing to say is who cares what anyone else thinks but in the real world it doesn’t work that way. When these parents are naming their children they have to stop looking for a “special meaning” and start thinking about how people will react to these names because it is the children, not these parents, that have to go through school, college, and the rest of their lives with these insulting names. All I have to say is common since is needed.

I have never seen such ignorance being sprayed all over this damn page over a fucking name. This is absolutely pathetic!

For Blambo:

You obviously have your closed-minded opinion and that is what works for you as well as for Sharon and Bill Cosby.

For Amy, Me and those who have open minds:

You have your opinions as well and that is what works for you.

Neither side will see eye to eye on it because this has been a back and forth shouting match.

As for our race being laughed at, we have been laughed at for 400 years whether we are rich or broke, slaves, middle class or upper middle class so that is meaningless. If I was to take the opinions of you, Bill Cosby and Sharon, I would have committed suicide a long time ago. It’s as if you are saying that we have to be pleasing to white people and not have an identity of our own. I have a problem with that.

I have heard opinions like yours being shoved down my throat daily and I got to the point where I was sick and tired of hearing it and I say to hell with every last one of you. I now march to the beat of my own drum and if I want to name my child a name of meaning and substance, I will do so as I damn well please and there’s nothing anyone can say or do about it.

What may make sense to you, does not to someone else. Why? They have different references than you do which in turn would make their standards and beliefs completely different than yours. It’s a fact whether you like it or not, NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU...PERIOD.  It’s all in your perception. Your real world is not the same as someone else’s all because their perception is different than yours. Simple as that.

Even if you don’t agree, you don’t even have to like them as people but you must respect where they stand even if you think it’s sad or not.

And to both sides...you can’t change people’s views no matter how hard you try. Here’s a quote for you all…

“Whether you can or you can’t, either way you are right.”

Some food for thought.

As long as it resonates with you, that is all that matters. when you listen to your inner voice and it is more loud and clear than the opinions of the outside world, you have mastered YOUR LIFE.

...and Erykah has mastered hers.

I’d rather be closed minded instead of putting my children through the mental abuse that they are going to go through because their parents are so “OPEN MINDED”. I guess you feel since our race has been laughed at for over 400 years lets just give our children these rediculous names and continue to clown ourselves. If these opinions are being shoved down your throat repeatedly at some point you should start to listen unless you have already done this dumb ass shit to your children if you have any. If I don’t agree you say I must respect where they stand, no, that isn’t true, I can’t respect stupidity. Some people shouldn’t listen to their inner voices because the IQ of their inner voice is so low that thier children suffer. I am a believer of having our own culture but who picked “GHETTO NAMES” as black culture. There is alot more culture to being black than being ignorant. But we just keep supporting this ignorant shit. When will we learn?

Your last paragraph you said that as long as it matters to you that is all that matters. That is just the thinking that has these children getting talked about and laughed at in school. It should matter to the child not to the parent, the child is the one that has to live with these names. What all those who choose to stupify their children with these names needs to understand is that kids can be cruel and when they hear these names in grade school your child will suffer because you are so open minded. I personally didn’t know that giving your child a stupid name makes you open minded but I guess in the “hood” it does.

To One More Thing:

Well said.

I don’t care what you name your child, just make sure they are respectful and open to learning.  I have many Madison and Kennedy’s in my class along with a Heather and Donald.  Whose parents and their actions are Ghetto ass Hell!! However Banquandia is very respectful and the smartest child in my class. And has been since she’s been in school. Her mother name is what some would call Ghetto, but she is the most pleasing to deal with.  Is it because of her name or the way she was raised???  Fuck the name ( excuse my french) and teach your muthafucking kids some damn since..... those names above told me fuck college and career-- and i suspended them and Kelli, Adam ( some parents—didn’t say shit to their kids but did curse me out!! ) go figure..  I’d hire a Vonquesha , and so would you if you saw how some oridnarily named people act!! But these may be the few.  Just like the few you’ve run across.

If you dont stand for something you’ll fall for anything.  Peace and blessings as always Love, Nicole

yes names can matter.  But damnit if attitude doesnt play a crucial part.

your attitude determines your altitude

yeah, nicole

Nicole, it is nice that you don’t care what these childrens names are but you are the minority when it comes to that. As for Banquandia, I had to laugh when I heard that dumb shit, Her parents need to be hit in the face with a hammer for doing that shit to a child that seems to be so beautiful. You can say fuck the name but the fact remains if most people are going to a business meeting and heard the VP of the companys assistant came into a multi-million dollar meeting with the name Banquandia, WOW, I just laughed again, people are going to have second thoughts even if it is just for a few seconds. If Vonquesha was to come to my office for a job yes, I would look for someone just as qualified or at least close in qualifications and I would go with them. Right or wrong this is called protecting your business. Perception is everything in corporate america and lets face it Banquandia and Vonquesha are not NAMES that run offices like it or not. So the moral of this story is if Black america wishes to set their children up to fail then just keep doing this dumb shit. Banquandia, this is a new low for ghettofying. Oops just thinking out loud again.

To Blambo and other’s with a pea for a brain: Please sit the fuck down. Right now.

A woman named CONDOLEEZA is one of the most powerful authorities in the world. And woman named OPRAH basically runs one of the most successful business ventures ever. Also,a man named BARACK might be the first black president in history. These are not your everyday “Lizzy’s” and “Michaels” but these people are running boardrooms, pitching foreign policy plans and changing the course for Black America. If they can do it, then anyone else with a different name can, if they don’t run into people like you who are a detriment to societial thinking with your close-minded ways. Your name doesn’t determine where you’ll end up. Your actions and attitudes do.

Blambo, LOL @ your comments you should work in Radio seriously your show would get mad play.. think Wendy Williams love to hate and love her ? can you do that all at once??  anyways, in another life we would be BF for sure.  Your very out spoken...But take your hammer and hit people who name their children Chloe and Madison… But they actually look and act like Gremlin and Failure.  And while your swinging hit Kelli and Adam for me.  They have basic names and a very basic ass mindset too.  Peace , bless Nicole

you know you DEAD WRONG for talking about a student i would love to have birth yes she is very beautiful inside and out

YOur ATtitude determines YOur ALtitude

To the post that is 2 above this one, The mindset of this forum is sad but it needs to be had. You picked out 3 of the names that fell through the cracks and now you think this applies to everyone. NOT TRUE. If they can do it then anyone can, NOT TRUE, if that were the case then we all would be running for president. For every name like that that you pick out I can pick out 1,000 that are held back because of these names. Sorry that you think that your name has nothing to do with where you end up but in this world yes it does. It’s not the only thing but it plays a part. To the post directly above, I know that some of my post are tough on people but if you don’t get tough on people they will just continue on as if nothing is wrong. The comments that I make I make them from experience, I have 3 children and oh yes, ONE WITH A GHETTO NAME, it’s his mothers fault I had no say in the matter and every time someone ask me his name I have to explain it to them. So you see I am in the category that I speak on. I understand that nice people want to believe that this isn’t important but guess what people??? It is. Oh yeah about the kids that are in your class that act the way they do just remember one thing, IT COMES FROM THERE GHETTO ASS PARENTS! You just keep doing what you do and do the WORLD proud. From me to you I say thank you for being a teacher. We need more of you in our communities.

You see?

In response to: “The Mindset in This Forum Is Very Sad,” You are illustrates two key points I keep on emphasizing. Context and capitalism.

Contextually speaking, the name Condoleeza is Spanish— not ghetto. To further add to the context of her nomenclature, she comes from an educated affluent, educated and influential black bourgeoisie family. In other words, she comes from power so her family could have named her “Sweet” (which is what her name really means) and she’d most likely still become Secretary of State.

Barack Obama is not an African-American made-up name. It is an African Kenyan name. Additionally, growing up, he didn’t go by Barack, he was called “Barry” instead. He knew what time it was back then and he knows what time it is now. It’s a trade off. He understood that in order to be accepted he had to live in the context of society by being more conventional with his name. Now that he’s in a position of influence, a position of power, he doesn’t have to worry about his name. He’s already proven himself.

As far as Oprah is concerned, Here middle name is Gail. If Oprah wasn’t invited to the party on account of a name, there’s no reason why Gail couldn’t get in with the same credentials.

What you have to consider before self-righteously announcing that everyone needs to “sit the fuck down” is the context of which people’s lives occur. Something that all three of these people have in common aside from their unconventional names, contextually speaking, is that they come from families that value education and who have been able to instill a sense of ownership of heritage beyond materialism and the popular culture.

Capitalistically speaking, Condoleeza Rice’s father was assistant dean at The University of Denver and her mother was a music teacher. Barack Obama’s father was a Harvard Graduate and Kenyan politician, and his mother was an anthropologist. Oprah’s father inspite of his lack of formal education, is a councilman.

The road of life is a lot easier to navigate when you don’t always stick out like a sore thumb because you’re named after a TV, after running-shoe or even just because you’re name sounds made-up.

These people are examples of what you can do with ghetto names. They are examples of what our children can accomplish when we give them names that help them and not hinder them.

*Correction to my last paragraph*

These people are NOT examples of what you can do with ghetto names. They are examples of what our children can accomplish when we give them names that help them and not hinder them.

I read my first post on this board and I called Erykah Badu a bitch. That is something I should have never done and I apologize for that, I got caught up in the heat of the moment when I heard her childs name. I still disagree with the childs name though.

You know it is really about time this topic came up. We do need to clean up some of the ignorance in our race and it can start with these stupid names. These people are right we have to start to think wisely and not try to be so different. Saying this doesn’t mean that we have to kiss anyones ass but we do have to pay attention. We don’t live in america by ourselves so we do have to blend in. People are going to say that we don’t have to care what the white man says but most of us are going to end up working for the white man. Having said that again we don’t have to kiss anyones ass but just think thouroghly before you name your children please.

I forgot something, I didn’t like reading that this was done by our single mothers but after thoroughly reading every post the only people that I am seeing defending this is women. Having said that lets all try to change this.

I accept people are people and if we are in the public eye then comments will be made on our actions and behaviour.  It’s a shame that so much discussion as gone on about a child’s name.  Weird names for celebrity children have been around for years e.g Zowie Bowie, Pixie Geldof, In relation to black people we lost our real names a long time ago so does it really matter?  The most I’ve seen black people get afrocentric was when the Malcolm X film came out.  Then within a short period, many of our black children were calling each other N***as and Bitches.  We do it so often, even intelligent hardworking accountants would use it to describe a talented woman.  What needs to change is us!  How can you be so up in arms about ‘Puma’ but let N***a slide?Just for the record, I am black, I am a single mum, I’m also a grandmum and everyone as regular sounding names.  I grew up on a council estate in london but did’t know it was the ghettoe until all the songs started talking about ghettos.  i used to hear Elvis Presley and be thinking about ‘those’ poor people.  My mum was a divorced mum and I still saw my dad.  My name hasn’t made a difference to my ability to succeed in life, being seen as a n***a bitch has!

bless, nicole.

Blambo-- a smart man learns from his own mistakes a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.  Glad you addressed Erykah this time by name.......

To the mother that was going to name her child “Zenith"… I just have to ask< what the hell were you thinking? As people up here have said thank GOD that father of that child saved his/her life. I know that I don’t even know you but you are an idiot. Don’t have any more kids.

Yeah K-Dub, that TV naming chick did sound stupid ha. The sad thing about it is that she felt proud enough to post that shit for the world to see. HOW GHETTO! Hopefully we are learning and growing from this.