Hi, my name is Basil Patterson and I attend the Collegiate School in New York City. Here is my story. My immediate family consists of my mom, Eloise, my dad, Daniel, my brother, Carter, and my six-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, Darcy.
Living four floors below me are my grandma and grandpa, Portia and Basil. I'm my grandfather's namesake and he passed away in 2014. My auntie Ann lives on the ninth floor. and my Uncle David, Aunt Mary, and Cousin Alex live in the building next to us.
My family faces many challenges. My grandmother is 94 and has dementia, my uncle is legally blind, and my Uncle Reggie has an intellectual disability. Living in such proximity to my family works for us because we take care of each other.
Their love and support is what gives me strength. Harlem is my home and it's special to me. It's the Mecca of Black America. and it's a city within a city. Its rich cultural history is second to none, and you can feel its vibrant, soaring spirit because artistic expression is everywhere.
You can find me at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture each Saturday from 10 to 3, the Abyssinian Baptist Church each Sunday, and the Maisel's Documentary Center each week, three times a week, after school. At these places and at home, I developed my love of storytelling, history, and filmmaking. As a filmmaker, I have captured so many unique Harlem stories to show the world the beauty that I see.
This form of expression is my joy. I lead extracurriculars that build a sense of community and warmth similar to my neighborhood, but in other spaces. The Jamaa Students of Color Affinity Space, the Black Student Coalition, the Student Participatory Action and Research Collaborative, the Diversity Awareness Initiative for Students, and for seven years, Drumming at Collegiate's Conservatory.