Family Name Study Guide
Family Name, the documentary, traces the efforts of filmmaker Macky Alston to uncover the history that unites three present-day families that share his last name-two are black and one is white. In the film, Alston shares the journey he took to learn more about his name, his family history, and ultimately, himself.
Family Name, the documentary, traces the efforts of filmmaker Macky Alston to uncover the history that unites three present-day families that share his last name-two are black and one is white.
In the film, Alston shares the journey he took to learn more about his name, his family history, and ultimately, himself. It is a journey that helped him discover how he and his family relate to the outside world.
The accompanying study guide encourages students to think about the following questions:
- What is the relationship between our name and our identity?
- What have you learned about the intricate relationships between a person's family and his or her identity?
- If you decided to explore your family and its history, what places
would you visit? - What prompts people to change their thinking about "race"?
