Thursday, October 25, 2007

A Culturally Healthy African Should Have an African Name

My Name is Kunta Kente (7 Min)





As Malcolm X said, What is your name? Where did you get it from? Has someone made you say your name is Toby! After watching this clip all should understand the planed and successful Cultural Poisoning associated with a name. As most African Americans I was given a name from a non-African ethnic group. I lived most of the first half of my life with a European American name. The Nation of Islam was the first major African American organization to effectively start to correct this aspect of Cultural Poisoning known as Image Poisoning. The “X”, in Malcolm X, is widely known in this regard. Members of this group typically took on Arab names not African Names. However, this was a positive step on the road to Cultural Health insofar as they discarded their “slave” names.

Many African Americans who did not want to become Muslim and generally remained Culturally Illiterate but gaining in Cultural Health, utilized their new Black pride to invent African sounding names like Tiesia, Tiquanda and Ushika. Interestingly this remarkably unique American naming system was gifted mainly to the females of our group. The next stage was giving our children actual traditional African names like Kori and Seti that have a meaning.

As African Traditional Religions (ATR) where resurrected, full African naming systems and traditional naming rituals we restored to those who were maximizing their return to Cultural Health. I am proud to say that I have reversed Toby Syndrome as part of the cure for my own image poisoning. My African name is Nuu Maat Aunk (teacher of truth about the keys to life). Most of my friends know me as Aunk. My writing name is Rudy Aunk this is done to make pronunciation and remembering my name easy on my fellow Americans, in the same way my Asian American friends make their names easy on me, with names like Daisy Ding and John Lee that maintain their cultural integrity.

Let me close by expressing my pride in understanding that while I initially gave all my children European Names, I in my later life give, them each at least one African name in the great tradition of Classical African Civilization. I also note that most of my grandchildren have been given at least one non-European name by their parents.

If your name is Toby, you should consider a 21st Century Cultural Health adjustment.



P.S. in case you think this is just history. Listen to the screams of someone being tasered today. The electronic whip of the anti-humanist is alive and well in jails, courts and on American Streets.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this site about black people only?

Aunk said...

No this site is not about Africans only, look around. However, this site does have and African centered orientation.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this is quite a nice post. However, i do not believe the current African American society has not become the "dream" of Martian Luther king jr.
1. the African American society seams to of become something separate and unrelated to any other American, almost a faction.
2. to many African Americans either do not goto college or do not appreciate the ability to have higher education.

I thought as Americans we are supposed to become one nation, one people, one melting pot of culture? My father was not privileged enough to enjoy college the way I can so i appreciate it more.

What do you Think about this Aunk

Aunk said...

Hetep and Respect Anonymous "WoW", thanks for taking the time to view the tape and share your thoughts.


"Wow, this is quite a nice post..."

Glad you found it edifying.


"...However, i do not believe the current African American society has not become the "dream" of Martian Luther king jr..."

Dr. King might agree with you. However, you should understand that Cultural Health in modern times requires an upgrade to Dr. King's "Dream", that includes Classical African Civilization, Kemet (
Ancient Egypt). So, the AA community is further from their cultural goal post then many understand. We must meet and exceed Dr. Kings "dream", if we have our eyes on a Ma'at prize.


"...1. the African American society seams to of become something separate and unrelated to any other American, almost a faction..."

Not has become, has always been. You will recall that the anti-humanists designated Africans in America as 3/5th of a human being.

The task of the humanist interested in Cultural Health is to move us Americans closer to a more perfect union.


"...2. to many African Americans either do not goto college or do not appreciate the ability to have higher education..."

This is by design, and the end result of World War Zero. As a young person, you should understand that as the video points out, names were striped from Africans, the system was very effective at removing, culture and self-determination. Education of an African was against the law and punishable by death in some cases.

The legacy of these American realities remain with us. It is remarkable that the ancestors of those who built the first university systems and Houses of light (Hospitals) in recorded history, do not participate to the extent that they should in our great tradition of education.

I think our President is moving toward improving American performance in schools, Even Al Sharpton and Newt, are on the same team America in this regard.

That you (young people) have an interest in improving your Cultural Literacy is a good sign for the Nation.


"...I thought as Americans we are supposed to become one nation,..."

We are one nation, lead by an African American President. Our National Cultural Health is improving. Naturally every individual can not lay claim to this improvement. There is a lot for you to do if you are to help make this vision of America a reality.


"...one people,..."

We are one Nationality, not to be confused with one ethnic group.


"...one melting pot of culture?..."

We are a multi-ethnic society, more like a gumbo, where each element retains its own flavor making the end result much richer.


"...My father was not privileged enough to enjoy college the way I can so i appreciate it more..."

I am glad you appreciate the level of literacy your education affords you. Now you must be sure to include Cultural Literacy in your educational goals if you are to become the most "Educated" and complete citizen you can be.

"...What do you Think about this Aunk."

Thank you again for sharing. I am happy if this article and our interaction causes you to think a little harder then you have before about American inter-ethic relations.

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