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Phoenix Rising in Resilience (AZ)

We are an online collaborative dedicated to raising awareness about ACEs, trauma-informed practice, and resilience-building in the greater Phoenix area. Given the unique history of this city and region, Phoenix Rising will explore personal and historical sources of trauma.

Loss of Cultural Identity Part 1; HUGE Number of Blacks in America Carry Slave Names

 

Over the next few days, I am going to provide a little food for thought about the loss of cultural identity that has profoundly impacted Africans across the Diaspora. Remember that the descendants of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade that live off of the Continent, are perhaps the only collective in the world that does not know their origin. We are African, but Africa is a continent of fifty-two countries with thousands of different cultures and dialects. Today’s micro-discussion is on names.

As the monuments tumble, I hear a lot of talk about remembering the past to prevent making the same mistakes in the future. But, what happens when your past is connected to chattel slavery and the very name which determines your identity is the name of the people who owned, tortured, mutilated, raped, separated, and enslaved your ancestors? How do you negotiate your self-worth when everytime you say your name you imprint your essence and the world with being the property of others? Do we really need anymore reminders?

Almost every descendant of slavery living in America carries the name of slave masters; this includes imigrants from the Caribbean. I’ve spent hours and hours trying to find the exact numbers to no avail. But every African American Jackson, Johnson, Jefferson, Smith, Adams, Jones, Murray, Flowers, Williams, Cooke, Brown, Miller, Davis, Thomas, Anderson, Taylor, Moore, Robinson, James, Brooks etc carries the name of the Europeans who owned their ancestors. Most of us don’t know the names of our ancestors prior to being bought and sold. How has that impacted our self-worth and ability to be resilient?

Beyond the importance of a family name, in many West African cultures it is very important for a child to receive a name from the ancestors and deities. The naming ceremony is a process of determining the entire destiny of that child, since it is believed that a child eventually lives out the meaning of his or her names. Names are important to indigenous people. With this in mind, in the near future, I will create an opportunity for people to return to the Motherland and receive their birthright; a name that encompasses all of their potential and gives direction for their journey in the physical world. In traditional ceremony, I was bestowed the title Iya, which means Holy Mother, and given the name Wekenon, which means Mother of the Universe. I am a mother. 

 

To understand more about the Loss of Cultural Identity and Historical Trauma, register for the full-day Historical Trauma Specialist Certification- Level 1 training here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/h...tickets-111847436694

Or for more information go to:

https://healhistoricaltrauma.c...ertification-program






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I've often wondered about this, Iya. Thanks for addressing it. I'm White. I changed my last name because I didn't want to carry forward the name of the person who sexually, physically and emotionally abused me. I cannot fathom what some Blacks whose ancestors were slaves and were required to take the name of their abusers must feel about their last names.

Jane! Did you, really?! That's so good. I changed my given "government" name to the name I was given in ritual. I want other African Americans to have that opportunity too. It would be wonderful for us to have a connection to African names. I think receiving an African name is a good start.

I've often wondered about this, Iya. Thanks for addressing it. I'm White. I changed my last name because I didn't want to carry forward the name of the person who sexually, physically and emotionally abused me. I cannot fathom what some Blacks whose ancestors were slaves and were required to take the name of their abusers must feel about their last names.

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