I am pregnant with baby number 2, due in [name]January[/name]. My daughter’s name is [name]Harriet[/name] and we call her [name]Hattie[/name], but I have been desperately and consistently in love with the name [name]Jemima[/name] since long before I was pregnant with number 1. I would very much love to call this baby [name]Jemima[/name] if she comes out pink.
Living in the US I am very aware of the problematic history and connotations with the name [name]Jemima[/name]. I do know, though, that a few brave souls this side of the pond have used the name. My question is this: what has your experience been since your daughter was born? [name]How[/name] have people responded to her name? [name]Do[/name] you ever regret your decision?
In our area I am mostly concerned with how the name would affect African American friends and neighbors. I probably should ask one of these friends/neighbors for their opinions re “[name]Jemima[/name]” on a little white girl, but I have found the topic rather difficult to bring up!
I would avoid it just to avoid being accidentally racist. You probably should should ask African Americans how they feel about it. Maybe find an online forum if you don’t want to ask them up front. Also asking online will more likely give you real opinions. In real life, people tend to sugarcoat things, so they might give you the okay while secretly they find it offensive…
The fact that you find the topic difficult to bring up with your African-American friends tells you all you need to know right there. If you feel uncomfortable just bringing up the topic, how do you think your daughter will feel every time she has to introduce herself to people? The term Aunt [name]Jemima[/name] is still used as an insult in the US and I don’t think it’s fair to saddle a child with a name that carries so much baggage. Maybe someday the name will lose its negative association in the US, but for right now, I’d say it’s off-limits.
I’m not American (I’m Canadian), but close enough, in this matter. I think I’d avoid it…and I agree completely with what previous posters have said. If you’re worried about even asking for opinions about it, wouldn’t you feel even more awkward introducing your little [name]Jemima[/name]? Maybe [name]Jemma[/name]/[name]Gemma[/name] as an alternative?
I think [name]Jemima[/name]'s sweet, and the Biblical history of it would be a great association for me, but I can’t really answer about the potentially racially offensiveness of it. I think it’s a sweet name, and the nns [name]Jemma[/name]/[name]Jem[/name], [name]Mima[/name], [name]Mimi[/name], or even [name]Maya[/name] could help pull away from the racial slur, but I honestly couldn’t say if it’s usable or not here in [name]America[/name]–I’m not sure how much of a knee-jerk negative reaction it would be. If you live somewhere in the south, though, I would be much less inclined to use it than if you lived somewhere up north, like me. I think it’d be much less of an issue in PA than in [name]KY[/name] or TN, if that makes sense.
Also, you might want to check out this link, it has info on what real Jemimas have been teased about, etc.:
While I think [name]Gemma[/name] is a very different style from [name]Jemima[/name], I have to say I love that suggestion as well. I think [name]Harriet[/name] and [name]Jemima[/name] go better together, but I just love [name]Gemma[/name].
I am in the southern US and have Never heard of Aunt [name]Jemima[/name] as an insult. Only as a syrup brand. [name]How[/name] is this an insult? I am really confused. If I met a little white (or whatever) girl named [name]Jemima[/name], I would think it was really cute, once I got past the syrup brand. And I think ppl will get past the syrup quickly once they associate the name with your little girl! I would just ask around, find a black friend you trust and ask him or her what they think and maybe if they could ask their friends for you? I honestly wouldn’t think it was a problem, but maybe I’m missing something?
I think I would steer clear. For now, this name is so saddled with racial connotations that it would be a little difficult to wear it, especially in some areas. Ashthedreamer said farther up north it might not be an issue, but in TN, where I am and one of the places she listed, it would Definitely be an issue! If you are completely and totally in love with and live very far north or very far west maybe it wouldn’t be an issue. I think you should talk to some of your African-American friends and get their perspectives.
I vote for [name]Gemma[/name] too. It’s a good name with a similar sound but less baggage.
I live in [name]Florida[/name] where the population is very much into Biblical names. I’ve met Jerushas, Keziahs, Keturas, and Jemimas, and I’ve not yet heard of one problem, and the girls have been “white,” “black,” and every colour in between. [name]Jemima[/name] is a terrific name and deserves to be used. Most kids that I have met I have taken to wearing the names that date back to slave times with pride – I have students named Addonise, Lecomas, [name]Hector[/name], [name]Octavia[/name], [name]Sixtus[/name], etc – and many of these children are wearing the names their great-great-grandparents wore – for example, my students Addonise and Lecomas were Addonise V and Lecomas IV respectively.
[name]Jemima[/name] nn [name]Jemma[/name] or [name]Mima[/name] is a colonial and historical name in this country. In fact [name]Jemima[/name] [name]Adams[/name] was one of the first settlers of Union, [name]Maine[/name], and a distant cousin of mine.
I say, go for it. We have children in the South who are still being named for Confederate generals (and some of them were later KKK members) – the kids are completely unaware of the heritage of all those little Forrests and Jebs and Nathans running around.
Whats so wrong with [name]Jemima[/name]? It a lovely biblical name and I can’t think of any bad associations. It flows really well with [name]Harriet[/name] (love this by the way) and you can use the nn [name]Hattie[/name] and [name]Jem[/name]/[name]Jemmy[/name]. I don’t really see the problem. Is this to do with my age or something or have I been asleep for the past years???
I love the name [name]Jemima[/name] and never considered it as racially offensive. If people want the potential racial stereotype to fade, they need to start using the name again. It has a long history before syrup. Think about the biblical roots, and about [name]Jemima[/name] Puddleduck of [name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Potter[/name] fame. If you really love the name and are worried about its implication, you need to ask a couple of your African American friends. That’s the only way you’ll really know
First, let me start off by saying that I don’t think a name can be racist. The parents can be racist and the child can be racist, but a name cannot be racist. Second, I think white Americans are the absolute worst over making too big of a deal over what is and isn’t “racist.” Before I posted this response I sent a text message out to my black friends and asked if they would be offended by the name [name]Jemima[/name]. Only one of them said no, and the rest had no idea what I was talking about. After I explained, the response was unanimous: how can a name be racist? [name]One[/name] of my friends even remarked, “Why are people still thinking of some names as ‘slave names’? That’s what’s racist to me.”
That being said, the only way to make the name [name]Jemima[/name] “not racist” is to start using the name again. It is time to put the past behind us and move on. If white parents continue to avoid the name [name]Jemima[/name] because it is “racist,” how will that ever happen? [name]Jemima[/name] is a lovely Biblical name with a pretty sound and peaceful meaning. There is no reason it should not be used. Absolutely no reason.
ETA: “African American” is not synonymous with black. There are white and Arab Africans who are American citizens as well.
I think [name]Jemima[/name] is so pretty, but I’m not sure it is usable in the US. And [name]Jemima[/name] has more problem’s than just the syrup! The whole Aunt [name]Jemima[/name] image comes from minstrel shows in which black people were shown as stupid or superstitious. To make things worse it was usually white men in black face who played in it.
ETA: Sorry, my computer had to be shut off, so I wasn’t able to finish!
Anyways, the Aunt Jemima character is a trope called “the mammy” which was the friendly black slave who took care of house and family. I think it really is a shame that the name carries such connotations, but I don’t really think it will be going away anytime soon.
I guess you could say, like agirlinred said, that names “can’t be racist,” but the connotations to this name? Most definitely racist, and that’s why you have to be careful. I think ribbons-and-soldiers makes a good point. [name]Jemima[/name] is a lovely name, and while I definitely think it’d probably be usable in [name]Britain[/name], I’m not sure about [name]America[/name].
It’s just…I don’t know - like I said, you’ve got to be careful about the CONNECTIONS to this name. The connections are awfully racist and gross. And as for agirlinred’s “asking her black friends,” just because some people are not offended by the name and its connotations does not automatically mean everyone in the world won’t be.
But with all of this in mind, I do think it’d be nice to see it used again? I think it’d be nice to kind of try and tear those connections away, personally. In fact, I’ve always considered it usable, although I’m not sure now that I’ve sat down and thought about it. But…yeah. I don’t know; I think a lot of the younger kids and folks might not even be certain about it’s connotations? Which may lend it to being more usable.
“US readers only” immediately makes me want to comment… as a non-US reader… weird.
And all i want to say is: Pfffff, trying so hard not to be racist feels kind of racist.
You like [name]Jemima[/name], use it. if all parents who like [name]Jemima[/name] use it now (and i think that it is a gorgeous name)
then by the time your/our babies are ten, it is a total non-issue, as it should be.
[name]Even[/name] if you are the only one to use the name [name]Jemima[/name], you’d help change the [name]Jemima[/name] association a little bit.
And every little bit counts no? [name]Just[/name] go for it!!