We’re continuing our “B%*@H I’m Tired” series this week. And this goes out to all the ladies in the place with style and grace that never found their names on a souvenir in the gift shop or a Coke Bottle. Yeah that shit was disappointing, but what’s worse is having your beautiful name butchered time and time again. I don’t know about you, but it’s exhausting. This graduation season, I attended a few virtual graduations. Sure enough, the announcer butchered several names time and time again. It literally made me cringe.
I remember one of the biggest moments of my life. I handed the announcer my name card as I walked across the stage and I’ll be damned if he didn’t tear my sh!t up! Just like I knew he would smh. Hell, as I walked up the steps I said to myself ‘watch this man bout to tear up my name’. Whether you know it or not, this is microaggressivey as hell and not of God.
Our names are beautiful- just like us. They have many origins including African tribal, Muslim, Arabic, and some are just beautifully created by our parents. The beauty in our names is oftentimes blemished by people who constantly insist on being loud and wrong. And let’s not even talk about how this beauty is used as the basis for forming judgments without any other context ie in employment or professional opportunities. Name discriminiation is very real in these streets. A 2020 article in Forbes spotlighted name discrimination among Black women. In the article, a professional resume writer discussed how many of her clients, who were Black women, asked her to use their middle name on their resumes as they were often told their first names were too “ghetto”. Listen…if I had to do that for a call back then I wouldn’t want to work for anybody that couldn’t accept me for who I am- their loss. So I am telling you tuh-day let’s stop diminishing ourselves by denying the beauty that is in your name for the sake of making others more comfortable. Your name is your name and honey it’s beautiful! Don’t you forget it!
Like I said we are beautiful. From the top of our heads to the soles of our feet. We have style. We have swag. We are magic. And that magic is wrapped up in the beautiful names that we are given. So the next time somebody has the audacity to mispronounce your name or lacks the common courtesy to ask you how to pronounce it, look them dead in the eye and say it with your chest “Put some respeck on my name!”
All this talk about names, got me thinking about baby shower food. So you know we had to leave you with a recipe.
Pimento Cheese
Ingredients
8 oz cheddar cheese ( don’t use bagged shredded cheese in this recipe. I use extra sharp cheese)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayo
1 jar diced pimentos, drained
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Shred your cheddar cheese, you should have 2 cups once you have grated your cheese.
Place the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayo, pimentos, garlic powder, and onion powder into large bowl of mixer. Beat at medium speed until combine. Season with salt and paper. If you do not have a stand mixer you can place your ingredients in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer at medium speed.
Serve with crackers, on finger sandwiches, or with fried green tomatoes.
Cookin' n Heels 
Share your thoughts here!