Visiting Assistant Professor and Director, Phill Branch will host a screening of his documentary “Searching for Shaniqua” at Baltimore Theatre Project (45 W. Preston Street, Baltimore MD 21201) on February 24^th at 6:30pm.

“Searching for Shaniqua” explores the perceptions and history of so-called “ghetto,” “unique” and “ethnic” names.  The film looks at the impact of name bias in academic, professional and personal spaces. “Shaniqua” premiered at the Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival where it won the HBO Best Documentary Award.

The director will be in conversation with Nyasha Grayman-Simpson, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Africana Studies – Goucher College.

The screening is a “Pay What You Can” event and is open to the public. We did not want cost to be a barrier for anyone interested in exploring this important topic. This film is highly recommended for educators, business leaders, human resources professionals, college students, high-schoolers, mentors, etc.

View the Trailers for the film at: https://youtu.be/tJsWdcbBD2k and https://youtu.be/tJsWdcbBD2k

Phill Branch is a storyteller working in film, creative nonfiction and theater. He is the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Solo Performance Artist Award and a 2019 Rubys Artist Award grantee for storytelling and performance. He is a 2018 GrandSlam Champion of The Moth in DC.  Searching for Shaniqua won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Branch has served as a professor at his alma mater Hampton University and recently at Howard University. He is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Goucher College in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on race and ethnicity in film and media.