Dr. Julie Park featured in a WaPo Article on Ethnic Names in America
"There are two prominent motivations why someone would change their name," said Julie Park, professor director of Asian American Studies at the University of Maryland. "It could be an attempt at assimilation, like for my or Kim’s parents." That was the motivation for Park’s parents, who only named her Julie because her family was about to move to the United States.
Then there's the practical reason of accommodation. “The ask can come from mainstream society,” Park said. “The different European names, they’re not asked to change their name. We have to be critical when we see certain names are preserved and others are asked to change.”"
Read the full article, "The soft bigotry of having to change your name. Because somehow Tchaikovsky is easier".