At What Point Do We Drop Nicknames?

Thursday, November 06, 2008

At What Point Do We Drop Nicknames?

I was reading the details of the Hudson family funerals. In the casket for Julian King, the ribbon read, "To Our Juicebox, Love, Mom and Dad".

Am I being elitist, but the use of nicknames seems to me to make the individual less than the name we gave them at birth. Rather than their homecoming be a somber and momentous occasion, it's now reduced down to whatever saying we can come up with. It's not like the nickname for John = Johnny or Robert = Bobby. We're talking about "juicebox". Yuck!

When we take the time to name our children, why then do we go out of our way to rename them after inanimate objects? Anyone else feel strongly about this?

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Arlene Jones' Biography

I was born in Chicago. I grew up in Cabrini Green. I attended Wells Sr High, the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle where I majored in Spanish and minored in Education. I have a diploma in Computer Programming.

I moved to Austin when I purchased a home here. I have two children.

I have been active in the community since moving here. I started with my blockclub. In the early 1990s, I worked with several people to try and form the North Austin Homeowners Association. I even went on patrol with a group of people who had a walkie talkie car patrol of the neighborhood.

As with most programs in the AA community, many factors led to the demise of those groups. Lack of support from elected officials was at the top of the list.

There were several people who had a group and we met out of DaVinci Manor. DaVinci Manor was at the corner of North Ave and Central where Walgreen now stands. Again there was very little interest in saving that building and our community lost a beautiful hall.

I have protested the state of the Central Ave bridge. I worked with Leola Spann and did many a smoke out including one in the 1500 block of North Lorel where drug paraphenalia layed on the ground. I have over the years here in Austin worked with the following groups at one point or another:
Northeast Austin Organization (Mary Volpe, Tom Hosea);
Northwest Austin Council;
Mad Dads;
Brotherhood of Black Men;
Westside Health Authority;
Nobel Neighbors;
Every Block A Village;
Beat 2532;
25th District Housing Committee;
WVON Volunteer;
African American Employees at the Merchandise Mart (AAEMM);
Lafollette Park Advisory Council;
Garfield Park Conservatory Advisory Council;
Westside Executive Advisory Council;
Austin Landmark Cultural Center;
Concerned Citizens of East Garfield Park

and so many others that it gets hard to remember.

Arlene Jones

Arlene Jones - Featured Columnist Austin Weekly News

Thursday, November 06, 2008