Director-André-Robert-Lee

A White Fund screening and Q & A of The Prep School Negro, a documentary recounting the experience of Director and Producer André Robert Lee and current-day minority students in elite prep schools, is being held in partnership with Northern Essex Community College on Monday, May 5 from 8:45 to 10 a.m. at Lawrence High School, 70-72 North Parish Road, Lawrence and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, 136 Water Street, Lawrence.

The film explores the internal struggle Lee felt as an adolescent provided with the opportunity to leave his lower-income community for a world of privilege through a full academic scholarship to a prestigious Philadelphia prep school. The film also profiles current-day minority prep school students to examine how much has really changed. After the screening, Lee will conduct a Q & A to further discuss the film and its messages. This event is free and open to the public.

Lee, a graduate of Connecticut College, grew up in the ghettos of Philadelphia and received a full academic scholarship to Germantown Friends School at the age of 14. His professional experience includes a variety of jobs in the entertainment business, including his start as Director Spike Lee’s personal assistant during the filming of Best Man. He has also held marketing roles at Miramax Films, Urbanworld Films, and Film Movement, and has worked with Robert DeNiro’s Tribeca All Access Connect Program.

For additional information on this lecture, contact Martha Leavitt, Northern Essex Community College’s director of operations – Lawrence Campus at mleavitt@necc.mass.edu. The White Fund’s purpose is to have a free series of interactive presentations for Lawrence-area adults, youth, and children. The audience is encouraged to seek wisdom, cultural enrichment, and intellectual enhancement by attending and participating.

Funded by a generous financial gift from the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, the White Fund Lecture Series has provided cultural conversation featuring well-known lecturers in fields such as history, literature, travel, the arts, and politics. The White Fund is collaborating with Northern Essex on this series.

For additional information or to be notified of upcoming events in the White Fund Enlightenment Series, call 978-738-7403 or visit www.necc.mass.edu/whitefund.

The views expressed in the White Fund Enlightenment Series Presentations are the views of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Northern Essex Community College.