What it’s like to be a white woman named LaKiesha

When you’re a white, blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman named LaKiesha, life can get complicated, as told in the article by John Blake. It can be exhausting constantly explaining yourself to white people, even though you’re white.

What she has discovered is that the names of Americans are as segregated as many of their lives. There are names that seem traditionally reserved for whites only, such as Molly, Tanner and Connor. And names favored by black parents, such as Aliyah, DeShawn and Kiara. Add into that mix names that are traditionally Asian, Latino or, say, Muslim. LaKiesha had to learn how to not apologize for her name. Read more if you want to find out how…