MONIKERS

African-American nicknames are often unconventional and non-conformist. Names can be bestowed by elders, parents, or family members and often hold memories that can be both gentle and fraught. Nicknaming a Black child provides an intimate identity within the home and community.

Malia, age 12, was named "Bag of Pearls" by her grandmother. This nickname became a shared refrain between the two during moments of freestyle singing. Malia held fast to her name while navigating self-acceptance and puberty, remaining connected to the woman who named her, long after her grandmother’s passing.

Eva has been called Eva Mae throughout her life, a name rooted in her sharecropping past in Batesville, Mississippi. At the age of 90, she also embraces "Meemaw," as her great-grandchildren call her. Her name and identity have softened after a life rich with experiences and hardships.

MONIKERS looks at common African American nicknames, tracing regional experiences and historic portraits of Black identity, while exploring the evolving significance of nicknaming in the digital age. The film probes further and considers the impact of nicknames within the U.S. education system as well as the challenges of cultural appropriation. Naming reclaims a dynamic heritage beyond American constructs, rooted in traditions that counter external pressures. A nickname can serve as a unique avatar that gives form to diverse versions of the self. This cultural tradition supports the resilience of Black identity, providing both an ancient and contemporary connection to legacy, community, and language.