Unmarked
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Unmarked
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Unmarked is a documentary about the restoration of neglected African American burial sites due to social inequities. Language includes graffiti on statues that includes swear words, such as "f--k cops," "f--k police," and "f--k Trump." Other written words seen include the satiric misspelling "AmeriKKKa" plus "Black Lives Matter" and "No More White Supremacy." There's a mention of human trafficking, as well as a discussion about a plantation owner who sells an enslaved domestic worker, and her laborer husband who is incarcerated for helping his wife try to escape. Images include Confederate flags, Ku Klux Klan hoods and robes, an enslaved man's scarred back from being beaten, and defaced statues.
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What's the Story?
UNMARKED is a documentary about Black cemeteries from the past that have fallen into disrepair due to social inequities. The film presents the efforts by a diverse team of individuals who set out to preserve and protect these burial grounds. Unmarked includes interviews with descendants, volunteers, and historians, as well as archival footage and animated images.
Is It Any Good?
This intriguing documentary is part of the growing public interest in the preservation of African American burial grounds. "This is an outdoor archive," says Unmarked's Brian Palmer, a Peabody Award-winning journalist and volunteer at Virginia's East End Cemetery. "That incredible joy of finding someone's relative, and then being able to learn something about that person, and to realize we're kind of rebuilding a community's history." Former Sweet Briar College professor and historian Lynn Rainville also notes that "it's a stroll not just then through the past, but a stroll that can provoke questions about our future and where we're headed." Leading that journey to inspire discussion by families is Unmarked's timely take about an important topic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the teamwork of the volunteers in Unmarked. How do they also demonstrate courage, curiosity, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
What social factors may have led to the decades-long disrepair of some African American gravesites? In what ways does Virginia's state law offer care for these burial grounds?
What is volunteerism, and what benefits does it bring to the burial site descendants? What skills can someone learn from participating in community service?
Why is it important to preserve the past? What would you like to know about your ancestors, and how would you research your family's roots?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 13, 2020
- On DVD or streaming: April 27, 2021
- Cast: Brian Palmer, Lynn Rainville, Crystal Rosson
- Directors: Brad J. Bennett, Chris Haley
- Studio: First Run Features
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism, History
- Character Strengths: Courage, Curiosity, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 40 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 2, 2022
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