When Mwangi Wanjau left Kenya for Canada in 2016, his name made him feel like an outsider. He began introducing himself as "James," and used it on his résumé when he struggled to find work. Wanjau ...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 28-year-old Mwangi Wanjau, who is from Kenya and based in Canada. The following has been edited for length and clarity. My parents named me Mwangi ...