[L.N. Smithee]

The National Weather Service says hurricane names are derived from languages spoken in areas that border the Atlantic Ocean, where such storms occur. Yet that doesn’t explain why Gaston, Ernesto and Cindy were chosen and Antwon, Destiny and Latonya were passed over. Lee said she hoped in the future the weather establishment “would try to be inclusive of African American names.”

It's simple. "African American names" are made up, for the most part, and are not part of any distinguishable language -- unless you want to stir up that Ebonics nonsense again.

"Destiny" is not a name, it's a English word. I don't know of any women named "Destiny." I've heard of Destiny's Child, the R&B singing trio, but none of the women in the group are named "Destiny." I suppose now Jackson-Lee will insist on a Hurricane Beyonce in the future.

On the other hand, "Antwon" is a name, but it's a bastardized version of "Antoine," French for "Anthony." Same goes with "Latonya" -- it seems to be faux French, although the name "Tanja" has Eastern European roots.

Much too often, "African American names" are either deliberately or unintentionally misspelled and/or mispronounced, such as in the cases of pro basketball players Antawn Jamison (pronounced "Antoine") and Dwyane Wade (pronounced "Dwayne").

Earlier this year, there was some stuff about how "black names" were being discriminated against in job applications. Maybe that will make some black parents think twice before choosing a name for their sons or daughters that have "I'm ghetto" written all over it.

Let me interject at this point that I am black myself.

[Sonny M]

Let me interject at this point that I am black myself.

I don't know what you did, but when I hit your link, it went to the "my profile page" for me.

[AppyPappy]

This is the longest we have gone without hearing that someone's cousin went to school with Lemonjello and Orangello