Freakonomics Radio 387. Hello, My Name Is Marijuana Pepsi!
Aug 15, 2019
Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck, a newly-minted Ph.D. in higher education leadership, shares her compelling journey of overcoming challenges associated with her unique name. She discusses how biases around distinctively Black names can affect educational experiences, even when research suggests they don't impact economic futures. From her personal battles with bullying to the role of family support, Vandyck emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding and the narratives that emerge from these experiences, advocating for change in educational environments.
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Teacher's Bias
- A third-grade teacher in Atlanta worried about her test scores based on students' names.
- She assumed Black-sounding names indicated poor academic performance, highlighting implicit bias.
Marijuana Pepsi's name
- Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck's mother named her believing it would take her around the world.
- Vandyck's father, a Jehovah's Witness, claims he had no part in the naming decision.
Name-Related Bullying
- Vandyck faced teasing and bullying for her name after moving to predominantly white Beloit, Wisconsin.
- Teachers, attempting to help, called her Mary, but her mother insisted on her full name.