It's great that Elon Musk and Grimes have the freedom to pick a "unique" baby name. But it's not that simple for many non-white parents. | Source: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
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Elon Musk’s son’s name is X Æ A-12.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive: “What a unique name!”
But why don’t we have that attitude towards other non-English names?
No one’s quite sure how to pronounce it. But the overall consensus says this name is “so unique.”
Sure. Let’s call it that.
How about other “unique” names, though?
The Uncomfortable Truth About Baby Names That Elon Musk Doesn’t Have to Worry About
It’s shameful that “unique” white names are praised, while “other” names often suffer discrimination. | Source: Elon Musk/Twitter. Image edited by CCN.com.
Anecdotal evidence abounds about qualified candidates with non-white names getting sidelined.
Legitimate research proves this isn’t just anecdotal.
According to The Harvard Business School, Asian candidates who “whitened” their name — but kept every other qualification — were ten times more likely to get an interview than if they kept their “ethnic” name.
That number jumps to 25 times more likely to get an interview amongst African-Americans who white-wash their names.
Most disturbingly, companies who claimed to be “pro-diversity” were just as likely to discriminate against “ethnic” names as those who didn’t claim to be so “woke.”
So statistically speaking, even pro-diversity companies likethose that Elon Musk runs will hire Susan, Karen, and Becky over DeShawn, Lupe, and Xiao Lu. And that’s even if DeShawn, Lupe, and Xiao Lu are more qualified.
Yet, Musk knows he can name his son “X Æ A-12” without worry. He also expects us all to accommodate his special snowflake, and pronounce his name correctly.
This Is (Not Just) About America
The United States, unquestionably, has a racism issue. But when it comes to discrimination against “non-white” names, they’re not alone.
In short: If you don’t have the “right” name, you’re not getting the “right” job. And that’s consistent in many countries of the world.
More Than Just a Name
It’s shameful that qualified candidates get disqualified because their names are “different.” It’s even more shameful that “different” white names are considered “unique,” but “other” names are not.
If we’re truly looking to live in a “post-racial” society, this shameful practice needs to stop.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
Bernadette Giacomazzo is an editor, writer, and photographer whose work has appeared in Teen Vogue, People, Us Weekly, The Source, XXL, HipHopDX, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, BET.com, and more. She is also the author of The Uprising series and is the CEO of the acclaimed G-Force Marketing & Publicity firm, which has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter and has scored film, television, radio, and print placements for celebrity clientele worldwide. Reach her via email. Visit her LinkedIn profile here.
