The Uncommon Name

     My name is not the name of my people. In Benin, where I came from, people’s names are Moussa, Vinagnon, and Bignon. These names have a link and take root in the history of my fallen people.

My name is uncommon where I came from. Nobody in the forest of Congo, in savanna of Kenya or around the lake of Oueme will respond to that name.

My name is uncommon in my country, but born at place where my people tears started. My name was born after years of slavery on cotton plantations in America. Maybe it was the name of the owner of a ranch that had hundreds of slaves.

My dad told me:

I needed a name beginning with ‘’L’’ and ending with ‘’Y’’.

He started to search like a slave searching peace in his forced work.

He searched! He found!

During a dark night my parents said: You will be ‘’LARRY’’. That will be your name.

You will make bright the destiny of your people. You will change the tears of your country in glory!

Because this name is uncommon here, you will be the only one. The one! The hope of people and will win where everybody lost.

The vodoun of your ancestor are with you and in your exile you will never lose.