January 6, 2006

Spike Lee to speak at Purdue during Martin Luther King Jr. Week

Spike Lee

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Film director Spike Lee will speak at Purdue University on Jan. 18 about "African-American Images in Hollywood" during the annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Week.

The free lecture, sponsored by Purdue's Black Cultural Center, will take place at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. Lee was originally scheduled to speak in September but had to cancel that appearance.

"Many of our students were part of a research trip to Hollywood last semester, and they came away with vivid impressions about African-Americans in the film industry," said BCC director Renee Thomas. "We're very pleased that Spike Lee was able to reschedule his visit to Purdue because it gives us a chance to expand on that examination."

The event will take place in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is Jan. 16. The theme of the university's 2006 Martin Luther King Jr. celebration is "Affirming the Dream XI: Courage, Resilience, and Hope."

Lee has been making movies since 1980, but became well-known in 1986 when "She's Gotta Have It" won the Prix de Jeunesse award at Cannes. In addition to his feature films, Lee has produced and directed numerous music videos for such diverse artists as Miles Davis, Tracy Chapman, Anita Baker, Public Enemy and Bruce Hornsby. He also has directed commercials and short films for television. Lee also co-authored two children's books, "Please Baby Please" and "Please Puppy Please," with his wife, Tanya Lewis Lee.

Born in Atlanta, Lee was raised in Brooklyn. He graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta and received a master's degree in film production from New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Established at Purdue in 1969, the Black Cultural Center is nationally recognized and acknowledged by the Association of Black Culture Centers as one of the best centers of its kind. Thomas said the center helps students gain a greater understanding of their heritage and supports and enhances cultural diversity on campus and in the community.

With four performing arts ensembles, the center also gives students a chance to develop their own artistic expression in dance, song, theater or writing. Students can participate in the Black Voices of Inspiration, Haraka Writers, Jahari Dance Troupe and New Directional Players, each one headed by an artist in residence who has a professional career.

Kevin Iega Jeff, a choreographer from Chicago whose film choreography credits include Lee's "She's Gotta Have It," directs the Jahari Dance Troupe. Jeff is the founder and artistic director of the Chicago-based Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre.

Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu

Source: Renee Thomas, (765) 494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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