Neal-Marshall Center to screen student-made documentary

A student-created documentary examining the black experience at Ball State University will be screened today to spark similar discussions about African American students on IU’s campus.

The screening, sponsored by the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, will occur at 7 p.m in the School of Fine Arts building, room 102,and will be followed by a panel discussion to allow IU students to discuss the film, as well as their own experiences.

“Fire Burning, Higher Learning: The Unexamined Story of the Black Student at Ball State University” was produced last year entirely by four Ball State undergraduates.

Ball State senior Brad Gray, the documentary’s associate producer, said the idea for the film grew out of a desire to have more of an open dialogue on the experience of black students at a predominantly white school.

“A lot of people don’t pay attention to what’s going on,” Gray said. “Things like racial division go without debate. We wanted to inspire conversation and make people think.”

June Evans, a graduate assistant at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, said she thinks the screening should inspire discussion amongst its viewers.

“The film deals with how it is to be a black student in a predominantly white school, but it also delves into the interrelationships between students,” Evans said. “I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for students to voice their own experiences.”

Gray said the documentary has had a generally positive response at Ball State, though he said not everyone is a fan.

“Some people do have problems with the more critical parts,” Gray said. “Some people are happy with the status quo, and that’s fine. The point is not that Ball State is a terrible place; there are positive parts in the documentary, too. This is the story of what we feel.”

Gray also said he is prepared for a similar reaction at IU, but hopes the film gets people talking.

“If you like it, you like it,” Gray said. “If you don’t, you don’t. We just want to spark a conversation.”

— Jake New