Produced and directed by Phill Branch, ‘Searching For Shaniqua’ is a documentary that explores the social and cultural impact of ‘non-traditional’ African-American names. As a professor at an HBCU, Branch encountered a diverse spectrum of names. The name “Shaniqua” is a name that carries a certain degree of cultural weight as THE stereotypical black name, so much so that it can almost be used as a slur in certain contexts. The documentary does approach non-traditional African-American names with a bit of humor. But, the intent is never to mock or degenerate “Shaniqua”, rather it gives her a voice and presents her as an individual. Watch the trailer after the jump.

For more information, visit ‘Searching For Shaniqua online. Support this documentary on Indiegogo.