Black Girl in Suburbia

Doors at 5:30 | Film at 6:00 followed by discussion

All ages welcome.

Free parking is available in the lot across the street until full.

Filmmaker Melissa Lowery shares her experiences growing up in a white suburb of Oregon and her inspiration for making the film. Melissa introduces her daughters, ages 6 and 8 at the time the film was shot, and converses with them about their experiences growing up in a predominantly white and Hispanic community as one of very few African Americans at their school. You see Melissa having these conversations with her girls while braiding their hair and walking through their suburban neighborhood.

Melissa also introduces and interviews two groups of young women growing up in suburban areas in the state of Oregon. The group provided a comfortable environment for the young women to express their experiences openly. This made for a great discussion on and off camera! Included in the film are interviews with various teachers and administrators who discuss their experiences with diversity in Oregon's school system, as well as professionals with PhDs who discuss the personal effects of growing up as a person of color in a predominantly white community.

Director Statement

There are no words to describe how excited and happy I am to have the opportunity to make this film and to see it come to life. This process has been an amazing life learning experience! I am drawn to documentaries because of the freedom they allow me to have in telling truthful stories and experiences like the ones in Black Girl In Suburbia.

Director Bio

Melissa Lowery is a wife and mother living in the Pacific Northwest. She is an Equity and Liberation Strategist and the Director/Producer of the documentary film Black Girl In Suburbia. Melissa always seeks to create better and equitable environments that honor the human dignity of each person through storytelling and dialogue. She currently works at Central Catholic High School in Portland as the Director of Equity and Community Engagement.

Official Website

http://www.blackgirlinsuburbia.com/

Link to Trailer

Social Media Websites

Facebook

Twitter

@blackgirlinsuburbia

All ticket sales are final.

Host or Publisher Alberta Abbey