Bartram gets visit and donation from Philly native and comedian

Students at John Bartram High School had the surprise of their lives last week when popular comedian, actor, and Philly native Michael Blackson lent a huge helping hand to the local high school he graduated from. Blackson donated $10,000 to his alma mater, John Bartram High School in Southwest Philadelphia. Blackson graduated from the school in 1990 and rose to fame through standup comedy and several roles in movies and television shows, including “Next Friday,” “Nobody’s Fool,” and “Meet the Blacks.”

- Yanina Carter Entertainment Editor

On Thursday, Blackson visited the school located at 2401 South 67th Street, where he announced the donation and spoke with students. “I try to tell these kids every time, ‘Listen, man. You can be from the streets, but you don’t have to be in the streets.’ You know? And you have to think about ways of getting out of the street. And, hopefully, I got to them today,” he said. “Sometimes they need people like me to come and talk to them. And I hope a lot of other people will go out to their alma mater and talk to these kids and