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I actually wrote a paper for a linguistic class in college about the history of naming practices amongst Black Americans. I must say I learned some very interesting things in researching for that paper! African Americans have a unique history of naming in this country, just as they have a unique linguistic, cultural, and social history. Having grown up in and now living in an area with a strong African American presence, I have encountered these types of names my entire life, and I'm not really shocked by Zy'Terrious and the likes. I recognize that Black Americans IN GENERAL have different naming practices than White American, and understand it's just a cultural difference. So I don't feel sorry for little Zy'Terrious. He'll probably fit in well amongst his peers.

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