Throughout my entire life in school, I have had to deal with the mispronunciation of my first and last name. It's understandable that a teacher might pronounce it wrong the first couple times. But after I have had the teacher for a month or so, they should be able to write it, and say it, properly.
Summit, Summet, or even Some-meat, there are endless ways to mispronounce my name. But my name is Sumeet. S-u-m-e-e-t. If by chance the teacher does say my name right, they will end up writing it wrong. I have not even had one teacher that can both say and write my name correctly. It is a scarring experience. And it is not just me, all of the brown boys go through this. What the teachers do not know, is that we do not forget. Every single mispronunciation is etched into my skull. You would think that we wouldn't be able to pronounce white names. But we can say them perfectly, it's not that hard. So why can't the teachers, and students as well, SAY OUR NAMES CORRECTLY? Honestly if you just read it out, like a normal person, you would be able to say it just fine.
For 13 years I and many others, have had to endure this pain. For 13 years I have not said anything. And now, I have stepped up to the plate. I am the first one to speak out, and many others will follow my path. We will no longer stand for this injustice!
