What’s in a Name?
I have always been very proud of everything that I have accomplished in my life. I am proud of one thing more than anything else; my heritage. Ever since I was a child I was told all about my grandparents and their trek from Denmark to the United States. I was curious what their homeland was like, but it never seemed to be a topic of discussion. My grandmother boasted the Danish flag in her home, and displayed little trinkets that said “velkomen” on them. My knowledge was limited to these few things I saw when I was a child. Since both of my grandparents had passed away, I started my research by picking up the phone and calling my father.
My father, Larry Jensen, didn’t know very much about Denmark either. He knew a few names from his family and their birth dates, so I started from there. I hit the internet with my newly obtained knowledge and I searched for anything that could link me to my past. I did not find anything about any of my specific relatives, but I learned about how and why I got my last name. Apparently, Danish people did not have last names until the late 19th century when new laws were introduced forcing them to take on a surname. The common people of Denmark didn’t use family names to identify themselves. Before it was required to have a last name, people used patronymics, meaning they took on their father’s first name with an ending to make their last name. It was also common for people in a town that was large to use their occupation or place of residence as a last name. Many of the girls would get the father’s first name with “datter” or “dotter” attached to it (meaning daughter of.) The boys would get their father’s first name with “sen” or “son” attached to it (meaning son of.) In Denmark, “datter” and “dotter” meant the same thing, just as “sen,” and “son” were the same thing (Origins of Danish Names).
The name Jensen, meaning “son of Jens,” has many different spellings. The Dutch forms of Jensen are Jans, Johansen, Janse, Jansen, Janssen, Hoensen and Janzen. The root of all of these names comes from the stem or the variation of a stem, which is Jan.
Eritrea, a small East African country on the coast, is where my roots come from and was where my parents grew up until they fled to start a better life in the United States. The way they were raised was the way they planned on raising their children, with strong influence of the Orthodox Church and making sure that even though we didn’t live in Eritrea, we would be instilled with the customs and beliefs that they had grown up with. Having a supportive and compassionate Eritrean community also helped me be the patriotic Eritrean that I am and allow me to learn about where I come from. I’ve always been known to be a part of everything that came my way and never slowed down because for me, I enjoyed doing what I could for my community and taking the offers that were given to me since that was the only way I knew I could stick with my culture.
My full name is Jason Accardi Junior. I was confirmed in the Catholic Church at the age of 14 and received the name John Bosco for my confirmation Saint. The reason I was named Jason because of my father Jason. I do not have a middle name because my father does not have a middle name; therefore for me to be a junior, I could not have a middle name either. The reason my father wanted to name me after him was because it was the only name he could picture me as being. My mother wanted other names for me but my dad was determined and had his mindset to name me after him. He wanted to start a tradition or a legacy of the name Jason through the Accardi bloodline.
This poem written by Francisco Alarcon describes the life of an illiterate man who finds himself signing away his freedom by placing his mark on a contract. He is unable to read the contract he is signing or even write his name. Being unable to read he leaves himself vulnerable to be taken advantage of and deceived. Alarcon, who was raised in a Hispanic community, was surrounded by illiteracy. Wanting to change the situation in which he was raised in he went to school to become a teacher and now focuses his efforts on eliminating illiteracy. This poem was written from the experience of watching those he cared about around him being taken advantage of because they were unable to read or write. "The X in My Name" shows the mistakes and ill consequences that illiteracy can bring upon those uneducated. It also sheds light onto how social structure and financial class play into illiteracy, and how detrimental illiteracy can be to those on the low end of the monetary spectrum. Though Alarcon only uses a few words it is easy to understand and see how the illiterate can be effortlessly be taken advantage of.
Founded by groups as diverse as indigenous Native Americans, Dutch merchants, English separatists, Spanish missionaries, French frontiersman and Africans – both free and enslaved – the country’s diversity stretches back four centuries” (9). America is an extraordinary country. In my opinion, America is the most diverse population and culture. However, exceptional does not necessarily mean better. I have never understood that some Americans have the mindset that they are ‘better’ than other countries. I generally like America, but that is enough for me. I don 't need it to be "better" than other places to be satisfied. I came here to have a better life, better education and to have a better home. However, if American history were full of lies they should make a wise action and should tell the truth and tell what really happened in the past. In my mind today is “Where do we find truth these days?” It is certainly not in the history a state teaches its children, or in the press that props up its leaders. Africans both free and enslaved and immigrants has freedom I just hope that, people of color and Americans have real unity and still respect each other in the future
At the age of two my parents made the long and devastating journey to bring me and my siblings to the United States from Mexico. Wanting a brighter future for us, my parents fought tooth and nail to give us the world they didn’t grow up having. Ever since stepping foot on the U.S soil, going back seemed impossible. The effects of this life-changing move, couldn’t mask the unforeseen disadvantages. Lacking exposure to Mexico’s colorful culture, little to no bonding time with my family from abroad, and the struggle of trying to blend into an environment that was so different, soon began to interfere with my overall identity. Realizing this, my wonderful parents prepared a transformative trip back to my homeland, and back to the past, facing
Growing up as a first generation Eritrean-American, I did not have anyone to lead the way for me. I am breaking barriers for the Eritrean community. Most Eritreans, like my parents, left their country, family, and belongings during the war to come to America as refugees. My parents had to start over and because of that, I was able to understand their struggle and sacrifices. It was hard for me to assimilate to American culture while living at home with a culture very different while I was young. As the years went by, I learned balance and found a culture of my own between the two cultures. I was disparate from many of the children at school because my parents were not born here. People assumed I was an immigrant and did not speak English because
The divine name certainly falls within the dictionary, lexical and semantic range of Lord/Kurios, and that is why many other versions/translations have seen fit to also include the name in their New Testaments.
Being the first generation born in this country, my siblings and I have the rare advantage of not only seeing life as it is here, the country we were born in, but also the broader spectrum of life and lifestyles. Growing up we had many experiences common to American people, but at the same time we had such a different and intimate view of life because the experiences we had being exposed to our Swiss heritage. The heritage we have because we are the children of immigrants.
My mother held her head high and told us that the only time we should ever feel ashamed or inferior is when we have forgotten who we are and our purpose because we are proud people with a wonderful heritage that doesn’t bow down or crumple. This memory reminds me every day that should be always proud of my heritage and ethnicity because these are the components that make me different that allow me to be loud and bright to be determined and ambitions just like my
Well my Messas name was Nole William, and we were named for him. But when we was freed, we were told to take freed names.
In the article “The Name Is Mine” by Anna Quindlen, she explains her story about her name, why she chose to keep it, and why it has such meaning to her. As a result of keeping her maiden name, there were many positive and negative aspects that went along with it.
Since I am not of native decent my family has gone through the immigration process on both sides. My family tree dates back generations to Ireland and England. My father is mainly Irish, his Irish roots trace back to his grandparents. His family had remained in Ireland for centuries until later immigrating to the U.S. The history further than my great-grandparents is vague as my father’s family had lived in Ireland for generations before. Despite being predominately Irish my closest roots with immigration come from England. My grandfather on my mother’s side is a first-generation citizen and is the only immigrant I have known in my family. He often discusses his roots in England and what life was like adjusting to life in America. His stories provide a unique perspective of life in America, verse life in England where our family originates from.
As humans, we are all prone to the inevitable feeling of humiliation. However, being embarrassed about one’s own heritage is a feeling that no one should have to experience. In today’s day and age, learning to love who you are as an individual is a huge accomplishment.
Is it important to know what is behind your name? Now in days, many names are given without knowing their meanings or where they come from. For example, I was given the name of Judith just because my parents heard it and liked it. It depends where and in which culture were they raised. For this purpose I researched my name Judith. Some of the main points I found were interesting to me like the history and my personality.
It is through the events in the journey of life that shapes and molds who we are as people. As for me, immigrating to America was one of those milestones that have shaped who I am. Those who have had the opportunity of moving from a different country to America know what a privilege it is. I felt the same honor to know that I would be journeying to the land of opportunity. Without hesitance, I spent the last two months packing and making the final preparations before moving to a new continent. Although it was a bittersweet time, leaving my beloved family behind, I knew that I couldn’t resist the treasure that waited for me in the new land. Coming from a developing nation the high level of sophistication that greeted me on arrival to America made feel like I was in paradise.