What's in a Name - Henry Louis Gates Jr

What's in a Name?

Decisions

In "What's in a Name" by Henry Louis Gates Jr., we are told of an event that occurred when Gates was a child. It was during the Civil Rights Movement period; his family was, for that time, an affluent black family. They were able to go into places which other black families could not. His family was also fortunate enough to always have new clothes and shoes. Even with their fortune, Gates could tell that his father was looked at differently by white people and in a way could sense resentment. He dismissed all of this until the day a man named Mr. Wilson crossed paths with them. Mr. Wilson greeted his father, not by his name but by the name "George" - which at the time was a derogatory name used for black people-. Gates' father did not correct the man and simply continued walking. Gates did not understand why his father did not speak up and correct Mr. Wilson. When Gates asked his Mother what this all meant, she responded with "it's just one of those things". For that time period the decision Gates' father made was probably the best, the consequences could have resulted in many negative ways.

Even now, though we have come a long way, we are faced with racism, sexism, ageism among many others. Like Gates' father I too have been in a situation where I could have stood up for myself and others but chose not to, fearing the consequences. The decision I made that day would not be the same one I would make today.

One day after school I was sitting outside with a few classmates, when two girls, who didn't look familiar, came out of the building and started walking towards us. These two girls, one sporting a rainbow belt and the other a rainbow dog tag with two female sex symbols linked together, were lesbians. Whether they were a "couple" was unknown, all that matter to the girls I was with was that they were lesbians. That was assumed by the rainbow accessories (six colored rainbow flag being the "gay flag"). As the girls continued toward us, my associates began "rolling" their eyes and commenting rudely amongst themselves. I sat there saying nothing, hoping the two girls would head off in another direction. Of course they continued on the same path; the comments the other girls were making grew louder and turned into derogatory name calling, which the two girls soon were able to hear. I sat with my palms sweating and my head down; going over in my head what I could say, what I shouldn't say and eventually just wanting it all to stop. The two girls finally reached us and looked toward the group, I felt like they were staring right at me. The girl next to me shouts, "What are you looking at you carpet munching dyke ass bitches?". My heart sank, afraid of what was going to happen next.

I looked up and saw that the