On Friday, March 5th, Edmund Burke School hosted the D.C. premiere of the film, “Prep School Negro”, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center as part of its Intersections New America Arts Festival. Members of the Burke community as well as others from area independent schools attended the event.
The film focuses on the experiences of a young African-American boy, Andre Robert Lee, who was raised in a poor, inner-city neighborhood in Philadelphia, and gains admission to a prestigious, predominately-White prep school in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lee’s experience alienates him from his family and from his friends back in his old neighborhood. He struggles with his racial identity and social class issues throughout his time as a prep student. Lee returns to his alma mater many years later to discover that many of the African-American students who now attend this same school are still fighting the same battles that he once faced.
Our panel of seven African-American students from local independent schools explored the issues of: race, social class, family, friends, and social interactions during our post-film discussion. Representing Burke was Imani Poindexter, currently in her sophomore year, and Jonathan Goodell, who is completing his junior year. Although the students came from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, their stories were similar as they each spoke about life in their respective school communities. Among some of their concerns were: the small number of minority students and teachers in the schools, social acceptance by their friends outside of school, a curriculum and social environment that is more racially and culturally diverse and inclusive.
