Written by Tina
Thomas Montgomery “Tom” Haverford is the adorable little Indian man on Parks and Recreation portrayed by stand-up comedian Aziz Ansari. A lackadaisical and very selfish government official for Pawnee Indiana’s Parks and Recreation department, Tom Haverford is rarely ever seen doing his job. In fact, he has strayed many times from the occupation of public servant in pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities. Often it does not end well even though his confidence and business aptitude is matched by no other.
Thomas Montgomery “Tom” Haverford is the adorable little Indian man on Parks and Recreation portrayed by stand-up comedian Aziz Ansari. A lackadaisical and very selfish government official for Pawnee Indiana’s Parks and Recreation department, Tom Haverford is rarely ever seen doing his job. In fact, he has strayed many times from the occupation of public servant in pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities. Often it does not end well even though his confidence and business aptitude is matched by no other.
Tom is known to pull all the stops to get ahead. He is often seen abusing what scant political power he has for self benefit (cutting in line at the hot dog stand or hustling favors from local contractors, for example). In season 2 episode 2, The Stakeout, it is revealed that Tom Haverford’s real name is actually Darwish Zubair Ismail Gani. Tom changed it believing that having a Muslim sounding name would prevent him from achieving political success.
The need to acquire an “American” moniker to avoid the stigma against names commonly attributed to a certain race is unfortunately a reality for many people. It almost seems like people born with "non-English" names have to accommodate the "real" Americans by changing their names.
The aversion of non-white names also has significant consequences in the workforce. A study conducted in Canada on the likelihood of callbacks for interview applicants with "English" names instead of "non-English" names on their resumes showed that people with "English" names were 40% more likely to get interview callbacks. Many of my friends have taken up "English" names in the workplace to avoid this from happening.
The decision to rename oneself is a conflicting and emotional process. It is not something taken lightly nor done on a whim, and it takes time to be comfortable with the new identity. The new “American” identity.
The aversion of non-white names also has significant consequences in the workforce. A study conducted in Canada on the likelihood of callbacks for interview applicants with "English" names instead of "non-English" names on their resumes showed that people with "English" names were 40% more likely to get interview callbacks. Many of my friends have taken up "English" names in the workplace to avoid this from happening.
The decision to rename oneself is a conflicting and emotional process. It is not something taken lightly nor done on a whim, and it takes time to be comfortable with the new identity. The new “American” identity.
However Tom Haverford has embraced his new name and identity and often slaps his name onto his outlandish business ideas. In season 3 episode 6, Indianapolis, Tom tries to pitch his own fragrance, Tommy Fresh, to a cologne maker but sadly gets shot down due to the fact that his cologne smells like “spilled Chinese food.” In season 6 episode 21 and 22, Moving Up, Tom opens a new upscale Italian eatery called Tom’s Bistro after first coming up with the name for a nightclub.
His eponymous labels are meant to establish a legacy and a brand to represent all of who he is. No longer is he Darwish Zubair Ismail Gani. Now he is is simply Tom Haverford: an Indian American born and raised in South Carolina, trying to make it big.
This is my experience too. My Chinese name is Chang Jia but I tell Americans my name is John.
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