When a person was sold into slavery they would take on the name of their slave master. This often meant they would have had numerous last names. Therefore a desire for freedom and to have a name that was attached to the Savior that would both free them and own them was what they seeked. This time they had a say in the matter. No more white man name but a name given to them by Jesus. "I told jesus it would be alright if He changed my name".