At a time when black women should be applauded for taking that first step toward financial independence by opening their own businesses, one Texas woman is struggling to defend the name of her business.

Lakita Evans is keeping the name of her new burger joint despite the growing protests from civic minded people who say the name “Fat Ho Burgers” is offensive to a small segment of society.

Evans says that people are offended by the name simply because they aren’t familiar with urban slang. “It’s not calling people a ho. It’s just like they say, ‘Oooh that ho is big,’ or, ‘That ho is tight!”‘ she told Fox News.

In the black community, the term “ho” is freely applied to people as well as to things. For instance, a brotha might spot a hot car and say, “That ho is fat!”

Other local business owners don’t see it that way. They say the 23-year-old is just using the name as a publicity stunt to draw attention to her business.

Pastor Marsha Martie, owner of the nearby Gospel Cafe, said: “[It] would’ve been nice to think a little more sensitively.”

But Evans says people should be more concerned with what’s going on in the world rather than the name of her burger joint.

“Look what’s going on in Japan. It’s like clear this world is not gonna get any better. Why cry and be depressed? The economy is bad. Somebody gotta keep a sense of humour around here,” she said.

Thanks to loyal reader LUSCIOUS LOLITA AKA WONDER WOMAN for the tip!

Originally posted on Mar 25, 2011 @ 1:04 p.m.