Help Us Bring "The Day You Find Your Name" to Life!

We are so close to completing 'The Day You Find Your Name', a powerful story set during the Black Panther movement inspired by Afeni Shakur's life. Our team has raised significant funds to complete most of the production, but we need your support to secure the final $5,000 to finish. We’re also aiming for a stretch goal of $9,000 in total to support post-production and fully bring this project to life.

Mission Statement:

Our mission with The Day You Find Your Name is to illuminate Afeni Shakur's untold story, celebrating a remarkable Black woman of the Civil Rights era. Through this film, we aim to honor the overlooked contributions of women in the Black Panther movement and inspire audiences with themes of identity, empowerment, and resilience.

Title: The Day You Find Your Name

Director/Writer: Dominique R Draper

Producer: Qingyi Song

Cinematographer: Briana Monet

Casting: Kim Coleman Casting

Cast:

Afeni Shakur - Journey Carter

Lumumba Shakur - Mitchell Edwards

IG: @findingafeni

Production Status: Production + Post Production

This project is part of USC’s Making Media for Social Change course, where we create films focused on social justice which is the heart of this story.

Logline:

During the height of the Black Panther movement, a pregnant Afeni Shakur fights betrayal and 189 felony charges to defend herself and her comrades, discovering resilience and the true meaning of justice. This is a story of the sixties, a woman’s story, a Black story, and an American story of survival.

Afeni Facts:

Where Your Support Will Go:

Your contribution will cover essential final costs, including:

Every dollar brings us closer to bringing this important story to the screen and honoring Afeni’s legacy.

Directors Bio:

Dominique Draper is a filmmaker whose journey weaves together deep roots, personal grit, and a commitment to storytelling that celebrates resilience. A senior at the University of Southern California, he’s focused on directing, writing, and producing, with a drive to share stories of people of color rising above adversity.

Born and raised in Houston, TX, with roots in Memphis, TN, Draper brings Southern warmth and authenticity to his work. He’s the eldest of seven and the first in his family to graduate from high school and soon college, a journey that fuels his dedication. Influenced by Memphis Soul legends like Isaac Hayes and Al Green and by the raw truth of 90s Hip-Hop, including Ice Cube, Scarface, and Tupac, he channels these inspirations into a cinematic style that’s both powerful and grounded.

Some of Draper’s favorite films and series "Snowfall," "Power," "They Cloned Tyrone," and "Killers of the Flower Moon" reflect his love for stories that confront hard truths. His vision as a director is to craft films that honor the courage, complexities, and triumphs of people who refuse to be defined by their struggles, making every story a testament to truth and substance.

Producer's Bio:

Qingyi Song is a filmmaker passionate about visual storytelling, focusing on producing and directing. A senior at USC School of Cinematic Arts, she is completing her bachelor’s degree in Film and TV Production with a minor in Public Relations and starting her master’s in Entertainment and Media Law. Qingyi has produced several projects, including the senior thesis film "Traingazing," selected by SCA from a competitive pool. Growing up inspired by diverse films, she believes in cinema's power to entertain, heal, and inspire change. Qingyi aims to create impactful stories that champion underrepresented voices.

Share and Join Our Journey:

Follow and share our Instagram page @findingafeni to learn more about Afeni’s life and watch behind-the-scenes content and updates on this journey.