Yolanda

Yolanda only declares love in person.

As Yolanda entered the conference dressed as a clown, everyone fixed their gaze on her.

Wearing a bright teal headband and a black-and-white dress, 12-year-old Yolanda adjusted the microphone lower and glanced sideways at her father, smiling nervously.

I chose the name Yolanda Denise, but my husband had reservations about it. He questioned whether people would call her Yolanda or mispronounce the name. He was right. Her name is so frequently mispronounced that it bothers her. There is a tendency among middle-class Negroes to give their children unusual names. Perhaps they are seeking elegance or some special identification. I fell victim to this custom, rather than following the sensible practice of naming the baby after a member of the family.