High school Quote by Issa Rae
““In high school, I found no burden in correcting people. It wasn’t their fault that they didn’t know, and there was no harm done. My annoyance would emerge when people would take it upon themselves to correct me in the pronunciation of my own name! It would go something like this: “DEE-OP?” “Oh, it’s pronounced ‘Jope,’ as in ‘rhymes with hope,’ ” I would say with a smile. “But . . . it’s spelled D-I-O-P. ‘Dee-op,’ ” they would say with confused indignation. “Yeah, I know. It’s still ‘JOPE.’ ” “Oh””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast “The Read” with Issa Rae, 2020
Correcting others’ pronunciation of one’s name can feel disrespectful, highlighting the importance of listening and respecting personal identity.
In simple terms: Respect name pronunciation and identity.
Key Takeaway
Listen and respect how people identify themselves.
Themes
identity
respect
communication
personal boundaries
Mood
frustrated
amused
reflective
Type
personal anecdote
conversational
When to use this quote
- social interactions
- classroom settings
- online forums
- customer service
Key Concepts
cultural sensitivity
self‑esteem
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you respond when your name is mispronounced?
- What steps can you take to correct others politely?
A Different Perspective
People may unintentionally mispronounce names despite good intentions.
![“When Andrew [Ridgeley] first met my family, he heard my mom calling me "Yorgos." He just abbreviated it to Yog, and unfortunately it stuck. I hated it is a teenager. It was not the most glamorous-sounding name in the world.” quote by George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00b/george-michael-1332_andrew_when-andrew-ridgeley-first-met-my-family_12039.jpg)
