From the Chocolate Chip Archvies: Prep School Negro Melissa B. Ivey

I remember how proud I was of my friend Melissa when I first read her story.  As we gear up for next weekend's Fairchester Boutiqe Recruitment Event on April 3, 2011, http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2011/03/dont-miss-our-independent-school.html , I thought it was a perfect time to dig into the vault and re-visit Melissa's remarks on her prep school experience and her decision to educate her children in prep schools.

For those considering the journey I hope you find her thoughts provocative and informative.  Let me know what you think.  Post your comment in the box below.

http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2009/11/prep-school-negro-of-week-melissa-b.html

The Prep School Negro Comes to The Calhoun School

The Prep School Negro Comes to The Calhoun School

You haven't seen The Prep School Negro yet? Well you're in luck!
RIISE presents the criticially acclaimed documentatry at The Calhoun School February 15, 2011.

Click above for details and to RSVP because space is limited.

Check out one of our early reviews from the Chocolate Chip archives...

http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2009/11/prep-school-negro-of-week-melissa-b.html

Prep School Negro of the Week: Melissa B. Ivey

We couldn't think of a more fitting way to wrap up this 3 part series on African American children and independent schools.

Check out The Prep School Negro of the Week: Melissa B. Ivey

http://www.theprepschoolnegro.org/category/psn-of-the-week/

This is a powerful testimony about the highs and lows, blessings and sometimes harsh realities of the prep school experience for African American children. Taken from both a student and mother's perspective it puts prep schools in its proper perspective. On a personal note, I'm so very proud of Melissa's story as parents and students can benefit greatly from her candor. She is an AMAZING woman, friend, wife and mother and we appreciate her for her transparency.

For more on the film The Prep School Negro Check out:

http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2009/10/prep-school-negro.html

For more information about independent schools check out the Chocolate Chip Archives:

http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2009/02/pressure-of-finding-best-school.html

Part II: "And Still Like Air I" RIISE!

Part II of our series on African American Children in Independent Schools

Resources In Independent School Education

is proud to present

Andre Robert Lee’s critically acclaimed documentary

The Prep School Negro

Viewing & Panel Discussion

Monday, November 23, 2009 7:00-9:00 pm

Riverdale Country School 5250 Fieldston Road Riverdale, NY

RSVP by November 12 info@4RIISE.org

Resources. Research. Retention. http://www.4riise.org/

RIISE serves as a member organization that supports the retention of families of color in independent schools. RIISE helps families navigate the complex dynamics of an independent school environment. They partner with independent schools to help foster an inclusive and equitable environment for Families of Color and help our children navigate this environment.


RIISE provides a platform for the hard work that families must do around race and ethnicity that will inevitably support healthy and successful matriculation at independent schools.

RIISE delivers by ensuring that families of color will be empowered to become vital, active, committed and fulfilled members of their school communities by instilling a sense of belonging. This vested interest and level of retention will directly benefit the vision of Independent Schools to maintain and increase a diverse student body representative of our global community.

Stay Tuned....Early Steps and A Better Chance

The Prep School Negro

So many of us agonize over the educational decisions we must make for our children. Personally, we struggled for a year to decide where to send our daughter to school after 3 very successful years at a Montessori based school.

At the same time, President Obama is proposing extending the school year and the school day to help American students excel and be more competitive on the global playing field.

As parents, we debate public vs. independent vs. parochial. We jump through hoops and endure high pressured and competitive admissions processes to get our kids into the schools of our choice.

After finding what we thought was the mecca of day schools last year, we began to fear the socio-economic and cultural impact that decision would ultimately have on our child. Yes, she could be in a superior educational institution with all the resources you could imagine, but would we also run the risk of her ending up in therapy by the age of 7 from the intense pressure to fit in?

Are the country's best schools really the BEST schools for our children? And at what cost?

So what's a parent to do?

Chocolate Chip is here to help.

This is the beginning of a series of posts that we will bring you regarding children of color and independent schools. This the first in the series spotlights the documentary The Prep School Negro. The synopsis (see below) taken from the website brilliantly says it all:


"André Robert Lee and his sister grew up in the ghettos of Philadelphia. Their mother struggled to support them by putting strings in the waistbands of track pants and swimsuits in a local factory. When Andre was 14 years old, he received what his family believed to be a golden ticket – a full scholarship to attend one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country. Elite education was Andre’s way up and out, but at what price? Yes, the exorbitant tuition was covered, but this new world cost him and his family much more than anyone could have anticipated.
In The Prep School Negro, André takes a journey back in time to revisit the events of his adolescence while also spending time with current day prep school students of color and their classmates to see how much has really changed inside the ivory tower. What he discovers along the way is the poignant and unapologetic truth about who really pays the consequences for yesterday’s accelerated desegregation and today’s racial naiveté."

Check out the website and see the link below to view the trailers.

http://www.theprepschoolnegro.org/

Of course your friends at Chocolate Chip will keep you posted on screenings, new developments, etc.

Stay tuned for our next post in this series on ....

RIISE: Resources in Independent School Education