The Impact of Ethnic Names on Employment & Education

1. Growing Up Chaim: The Impact of Ethnic
Names On Employment & Education
Presented by: Chaim Shapiro-Touro College

2. Say It With Me…Chaim
• The “Ch” sound doesn't occur in English-
• Common issue in languages
o Challenge phrase on D-Day-Welcome/Welcome or
Flash/Thunder
o “W” sound and “Th” sound
o Band of Brothers story
• L’Chaim-like the toast?

3. Say It With Me…Chaim (Cont)
• I still don’t get it? “Chain”?
• Chaim Vs Nechama
o Which would you more likely attempt?
o Nechama vs Nekama-close but VERY different
• Other Hebrew letters: “Tz” as in Tzvi

4. Barack Obama
Vs
Chaim Shapiro
• Recognizable vs unrecognizable
• Pronounceable vs non-pronounceable

5. This is NOT just a Jewish challenge
• This is NOT an all inclusive list
• Ethnic African American names
• Asian names
• Muslim names
• Latino names
• Native American names
• Where the Street Has No Name

6. What Is In A Name?
EVERYTHING
• Identity
o The MOST fundamental part of our identity
o My name-right or...wrong?
• Pride
• Heritage

7. Sticks and Stones May Break My
Bones BUT Names…
• Names in traditional Judaism
o Named for relatives
o Which name shall we use?
o Divinely ordained?
o Calling an audible
o How I got my full name

8. Zorach
• Come again? Zorach
o Unusual even among Orthodox Jews
o So rare that It is ACTUALLY the wrong name!
o LinkedIn Search: “Chaim” 10 K: “Zorach” 447

9. Growing Up Chaim
• VERY aware people can’t pronounce it
o At the circus-6 years old
o Blech…aim
o Assume they can’t
o Apologizing for your name
o Frustration
o I KNOW they are trying

10. The Curious Case of Greg Button
• I changed the student’s name for this
presentation
• Chassidic student-full Chassidic garb
• Internal Vs External names
• The impact of the Holocaust
• Little ditty about Jack and Eileen

11. Changing Your Name
• I see this all the time at Touro
• Is this a betrayal?
• Will I be discriminated against?
• Will they make assumptions about me?
• What about “Bob”?
• Talk radio caller “Brian”

12. Does this REALLY matter?
• Warren Wilson Story-Society is changing
• We are not there yet
• Is there privilege in a name?
• I’m trying…
o Conference name badges
o Apologizing when they try
o NACE14 Video

13. You said what?
• Turning on Telemarketers
• Tonight Is Going To Be a Good Night-L’Chaim
• Chaim Zorach Shapiro- Life shines beautifully?
• Name withheld by request
• Grad School paper presentations
o APA Format
o ZORACH-Its Klingon
o Isn’t that more of a Romulan name?

14. Relative Comfort Level
• I’ve given up, BUT I work in a very accepting
profession
• Venturing out for the first time
• Come ON already
• R E S P E C T

15. What Can We Do As Professionals?
• Avoid the Warren Wilson mistake
• Ask if you are not sure
• Try again
• Ask “is this right”
• Their apology shouldn’t be your excuse
• Work on it
• Apologize if you have to

16. Contact Me
• Chaim.shapiro@touro.edu ;
chaimshapiro@gmail.com
• 718-535-9375
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaimshapiro/
• @ChaimShapiro on Twitter

17. This Presentation is SHRM-Certified
The Eastern Association of Colleges
and Employers (EACE) is recognized
by SHRM to offer Professional
Development Credits (PDCs) for the
SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. Please
record the activity ID below for self-
reporting.
This presentation, Activity ID 21-G9JSG is valid for 1.00 PDC for
the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM SCPSM. For more information about
certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.