"When Elevators Were Racist" is a participatory experience, groundbreaking, experimental, and interactive documentary that explores the intersections of the initiation of racial segregation, economics, and urban modernization in a unique way, redefining how stories of social justice and progress are told. Through its innovative choose-your-own-path format, the film empowers audiences to navigate the storylines and themes that resonate most deeply with them, creating a personalized journey through history.

 

The documentary sheds light on the overlooked yet profound impact of civil rights advancements on urban infrastructure and equity in mobility. It explores the unexpected and unthinkable intersections of urban modernization and racial segregation while examining the Jim Crow era's pervasive racial exclusion. This was a time when African Americans were relegated to service stairs and freight elevators, denying access to the primary vertical pathways of public and private spaces. Moreover, it highlights the transformative power of the Civil Rights Movement, which opened elevators to all and ushered in a new era of growth for industries, such as elevator manufacturing.

 

Through vivid storytelling, historical accounts, and cutting-edge interactivity, this documentary reveals how desegregation expanded customer bases and fueled economic opportunities in unimaginable ways. Integration reshaped urban landscapes and infrastructure from department stores to apartment complexes, demonstrating the interconnectedness of social progress and economic development. At its core, "When Elevators Were Racist" encourages reflection on how removing physical and societal barriers has led communities toward more significant equity and prosperity in previously unexpected ways.