Defend Your Name: Helping Kids Embrace Their Unique Names with Luvvie Ajayi Jones

What does a name really mean? For many Black and immigrant children, it means identity, heritage, and pride. But what happens when the world tells them their name is too different?

In this special episode of BACKtalk by Successful Black Parenting Magazine, host Janice Robinson-Celeste talks with bestselling author and “Professional Troublemaker” Luvvie Ajayi Jones about her powerful new children’s book Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name. Inspired by her own story of growing up Nigerian-American, Luvvie shares how parents can help kids stand tall in who they are, starting with their names.

🎧 Topics include:
• Why names matter and how they shape confidence
• How to help kids respond to microaggressions
• The emotional impact of never seeing your name on a keychain
• Tips for parents raising bold, unapologetic children
• Luvvie’s movement to get 10,000 books into classrooms

Find Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name on Amazon: https://amzn.to/42XFl5j
Follow Luvvie everywhere @Luvvie
Follow us @SuccessfulBlackParenting

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00:00 – Intro and welcome

02:45 – Luvvie explains the meaning of her name

05:30 – Why she calls herself a “Professional Troublemaker”

12:10 – Story behind *Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name*

18:35 – How mispronouncing names becomes a microaggression

25:00 – Advice for parents raising bold kids

31:20 – Where to get the book and join the sponsorship train