With my name, I lead a life between 2 worlds as an African American female with an Irish last name.

My first name is a common, Jennifer, but my last name is Irish.

                                                                                I've been able to work the worlds of white America and black America with people thinking I am white which has had mixed reactions.  However, when I am seen people want to make assumptions about me.

                                                                                When my name is spoken out loud in public others do not even know how to pronounce it.  It is always mispronoucned, butchered or I am made fun of because no one has heard it. I was teased a lot as a child because of the uniqueness and inquisitiveness of where did my name come from?

                                                                                My voice is not the stereotypical black woman's voice either so this is why some people are surprised when they talk to me on the phone and meet me to know that this young lady with an Irish name is African American. This is a universal issue from every culture with me and my name.

                                                                                Even though I am visibly black some black people automatically tell me that oh that is DEFINITELY a slave master's name. However, these individuals fail to know that my real last name M___ was changed to the one that I have now which has been a source of a puzzle for my entire family. So, my last name may or may not be my real slavemaster? But, I refuse to use an X like Malcolm X did because I know there is some history to this name.                                                                               

My paternal father's father changed his name to the one I have and for reasons we never knew for I never knew him.  He must be deceased now for he would be in his 90s if he were alive now.                                                                               

Last year, I found my name on ancestry.com from signatures of individuals from Ellis Island which was a shock because I have never known anyone else except for my father with the name. I am not too sure if I want to know more about my name only because it may lead to me knowing somethings I do not care to know about but I am curious though.                                                                               

Despite the ignorance that some people have displayed with me and my name, I do embrace having a last name that is unique but I wish I had a brother who had the name to pass it on.

                                                                                I'm an only child so this burden of the name has been constantly disucssed to me by my parents but I enjoy the uniqueness and I embrace it despite people not pronouncing it correctly.                                                                               

It is surprising sometimes when I use my debit card at the grocery store when the cashier tries to say my name and they cannot. I appreciate the effort to teach.

                                                                                We all are unique in a variety of ways. I know my last name is one I do cheerish. Only a few know how to pronounce my last name correctly so it is a constant surprise when someone knows how to pronounce it.                                                                               

For privacy reasons I care not to disclose my name. It is a security issue but I had to share this story for I know I am not alone. Their is one other black female who I know who has an Irish last name similiar to mine and she has a similar story too! We do exist!  You are NOT alone!

Google is not the answer for me here too for I am the only person with my name as with my parents. When you do a google search it is just us who we find.

If you find anyone else with that name it may be my half-sister and my deceased grandmother. That is it. So, I have tried most of my resources and I have done the telephone book searches too. Only me and my parents. I did attempt to look!