My Name, Mehki Solomon ‘22

My Name

After “My Name” by Sandra Cisneros

In the Akan language, my name directly translates to “born on a Saturday.” In Hebrew it translates to “Saturday’s child”. It is a typical and common Ghanaian name. The reason Saturday is so important to my name is because the Akan religion believes that God created Himself on a Saturday. Therefore, they sometimes use my name to refer to God Himself.

It’s my father’s name. He’s a quiet man; he’s not known to say many words, which is often misunderstood for weakness, but he’s the strongest and most capable person that I know which is fitting considering my grandfather named him after a Ghanaian president who was a political theorist and revolutionary.

My father. He always tells me about his crazy stories when he used to live in Queens. He was wild and reckless. The complete opposite of today. My mother tells me about how cool and reserved my father was and still is. Sort of like a bad boy you would probably see in a coming-of-age high school movie.

The story goes he swept her off her feet and confessed the love he had for her since seventh grade. He gives his blood, sweat and tears to his family. Devoting his entire life to giving his wife and kids the best life possible. Kwame. We share the same name and the same burning desire to work hard and do what we can to get the most out of our lives. I wonder if it’s our character or if our name provides us with much needed strength. Kwame.

At school, I normally go by my middle name “Mekhi”. I prefer this name because I like to think it gives me my own identity. Although I’m the son of a great man, I want to make my own mark on the world. Some of my friends may call me Kwame once in a blue moon for comedic value. They like the disoriented expression on my face when I hear that name. They then ask, “why do you go by Mekhi?” to which I respond, “So I’m not confused with my pops.”

Mehki Solomon ‘22