What’s in a name? - Uppers 6/7
The 6/7th grade humanities class has been unpacking important people and ideas highlighted in the beginning of One Crazy Summer, by RIta Williams-Garcia. The author titled the first chapter, “Cassius Clay Clouds”, using simile and allusion to describe the turbulence experienced by the main character on her plane ride. This gave us an opportunity to learn more about Muhammad Ali's (f.k.a Cassius Clay) impactful childhood, boxing career, and imprisonment. We watched footage of Ali speaking during a television interview, “See we don’t have our names, I notice how proud you all are, proud of your names.” He goes on to list last names from different nationalities then says, “But we have names like Grady and Clay and Hawkins and Smith and Jones and Johnson, but we’re black”. The host responds, “These are the slave names”. Ali says, “Yeah, so when I heard this, I knew the truth, it’s history, so Muhammad Ali is a beautiful black name. The name of our ancestors”. During the interview we saw Ali’s wit, humor, confidence, and love for attention. Through assignments and other videos we learned about his struggles with dyslexia in school, how he used to “race” his school bus, and that he became so quick by avoiding rocks he had his brother throw at him!
The main character of One Crazy Summer, Delphine, narrates, “A name is important. It isn’t something you drop in the litter basket or on the ground. Your name is how people know you. The very mention of your name makes a picture spring to mind, whether it’s a picture of clashing fists or a mighty mountain that can’t be knocked down. Your name is who you are and how you’re known even when you do something great or something dumb”. Also in this chapter, titled “ Everyone Knows the King of the Sea”, Delphine describes finding the truth about her first name, “My mother hadn’t reached into her poetic soul and dreamt me up a name. My mother had given me a name that already was, which meant she hadn’t given me a thing”...”I, according to Miss Merriam Webster, had been named for a dolphin under the sea” .
Coincidentally, in writing class, students were assigned the following questions about their name:
What is your full name?
What name do you like to go by?
Who named you?
What does your name mean?
Are you named after someone? If so, who and why?
Do you ever think about changing your name? Why?
Where is your last name from?
Share a special significance or story about your name
Student Responses:
My mom named me after Stephen Biko who was an activist. He was someone my mom really looked up to. She thinks I will do something great maybe. My last name I don’t know anything about except it's my last name and it came from my mom.
I’m named after the character “Max” from the book “Where the Wild Things Are” . I’m named after him because my mom always liked that book and I even loved it when I was younger.
I remember that one of my old teachers used to pronounce my name wrong. The teacher knew me but they always forgot how to pronounce my name. I sometimes wondered if they were doing it on purpose. I hated how whenever I used to correct them, they always said “tomato tomato” in different ways. It made me feel very different from the other kids and it made me hate my name.
My first name means strength from God and my middle name is a Scottish clan.
My middle name comes from my uncle Matthew.
I’m named after the character “Max” from the book “Where the Wild Things Are” .
Back in humanities class, students were asked to make a list of 10 things that represent who they are, their interests, and what they are known for. Once completed, the lists were shared out to the class. Next, everyone drew a rough draft of their name, with each letter representing one or more items from their list. After having their rough draft approved, they chose from a variety of art supplies to create their final draft.
Here are rough and final drafts from Orla, Sage, and Damaris (Damara).
Paint markers and Sharpie.
Paint markers and Sharpie.
A pencil and eraser, sticker, paint, leaves from the backyard, paint marker, and Sharpie.