[/caption]I was fortunate enough to attend a screening of "The Prep School Negro" yesterday, and I have to admit that when I first saw the word "Negro," I thought it had to be a joke because I couldn't process the use of that word in a serious context. However, I thought more about it, and I realized that it was not an politically-incorrect driven joke, but more of a reflection on the dynamics of race in prep schools (silly me). This documentary juxtaposes André Robert Lee's, the director, experience as a student of color in a predominantly white prestigious prep school with students of color attending the same school in more recent years, as well as a personal reflection in his adult years through his family and film-making process.
Lee grew up in the ghettos of Philadelphia as a black child and was always interested in his academic studies. His studiousness paid off when he received a full scholarship to attend Germantown Friends School, a prestigious prep school. Throughout his years there, he often realized that he was the only black person in his classes and at events. Though he was able to pursue his academic goals more ardently at GFS, he always felt immense guilt because of the growing distance between him and his family. In fact, he felt a constant tug between being "black" with his family and neighborhood friends and being "white" at school with his teachers and classmates. This tug drove a wedge between him and his family because of the differences in habits, speech patterns, interests, and desires. He reflects immensely on the differences in the cultural capital of his white classmates and his black family that immensely influenced his growth as a student and an adult.
Lee also comes back to high school where he speaks and interviews other students of color at GFS to talk about their experience as the few faces of color in a predominantly white school, and unsurprisingly, their sentiments are similar, a lack of ability to relate to their white classmates, the confusion about acceptable behavioral patterns that are dictated by racial and class expectations are still present. The footage revealed students of color considering really interesting questions such as, "Do you feel there are enough black, Hispanic, Asians, and students of color in private/prep schools?" and "Do you feel you are the spokesperson of your race?" In the film, there are accounts of racist interactions that these students of color have to endure, including being the exotic black guinea pig where white classmates would ask to touch their hair and touch their skin or a case where a black student was ostracized for not being "black enough."
The third storyline in this documentary is Lee's attempt to reconnect with his family years after graduation from college and while he was filming. He captures his mother's and sister's experience and reflections on his attendance at GFS, and his "white-washing" and loss of intimacy and familial connection. However, the film beautifully portrays the emotional rebuilding of the bridge between Lee and his family, as they talk through differences to come together.
This documentary raises really interesting points about the education system for students of color, such as the "burden of being white" that is often felt by students of color when having to adjust to a culturally white academic environment and the hostilities they face at school and at home. Black students and students of color are always having to reinvent themselves to accommodate to the standard of a seemingly respectable and cultured student. Students of color are often tokenized and perceived as the "spokesperson" because many of their white classmates have not had much racial exposure elsewhere. Also, this film raises the issue of the differences in cultural capital between predominantly black public schools and predominantly white private schools, and their different learning environments. He makes the point that these private schools often support systems for the majority while not providing enough support for the minority. While white students may feel comfortable and safe in these environments, students of color are constantly undermined by their lesser numbers and cultural differences.
This was a really interesting documentary that brought up many interesting points on racial dynamics in educational institutions. I recommend this documentary immensely! Here is the link to his website of film screenings, and please try to make one of them!
Also, this documentary mentioned the "black table" that was always at school where all the black students always sat together (you know what I'm talking about). Another really interesting blog post that analyzes and reflects more deeply on this issue of race and space is ChopTensils "Black Frats, Asian-American Student Unions, etc." post.
Does Lee observe any differences in prep school culture over time? Does he suggest any "remedies" to the segregation and alienation?
ReplyDeleteChopTensils post is intriguing. As a board member of my school's Asian American Association, I don't consciously approach the group as a "racial homebase," but this is definitely a way to look at it.
I found the post a bit preachy by the end. I completely agree that a "black frat" or an "Asian club" challenges power dynamics in a much more equality-pursuing way, but I thought the writer used the second person way too much.