The American Way: Life, Liberty, and Being Pursued by the Mob (Film Screening)
Racial terror lynching and Black population banishment were widespread across Missouri and the nation in the decades following the Civil War, and their legacies continue to shape patterns of conflict, violence and inequality today. In The American Way, filmmaker Tiffany Lee explores how Missouri and broader U.S. histories and legacies of racial violence relate to the identity of the nation, and continued contestation of American belonging. Please join us for a debut screening, reception, and panel discussion with the filmmaker and several contributors to the film who are joining us from Missouri communities directly impacted by histories of racial violence and their legacies today.
The American Way: Life, Liberty, and Being Pursued by the Mob
Description: Tracing a legacy of racial violence used to deny Black citizens full belonging, The American Way examines how citizenship in America has historically been defined through exclusion, revealing how whiteness as a qualification for citizenship was used to deny Black citizens equal rights and protections under the law. At our 250th anniversary, The American Way asks audiences to consider how this legacy of violence and exclusion continues to shape who is allowed to be “American.”
The screening, reception, and panel discussion will take place on Saturday May 2, 2026 at 2pm in Umrath Lounge on WashU's Danforth campus (adjacent to the Danforth University Center). We kindly request your RSVP to assist with event planning. Please use the RSVP button below.
About the filmmaker:
Tiffany Lee is a distinguished educator, historian, and media executive, dedicated to preserving and promoting Black history and culture. As the CEO of Think Black Cultural Media Group, she brings history to life through compelling storytelling and media. Lee is a respected authority on Race Riots, having served as a Subject Matter Expert in presentations for the State of Illinois African Descent Reparations Commission, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and to the NAACP. Her literary and creative contributions include the book Legendary East St. Louisans: An African American Series, the short documentary I Bear Witness: Untold Stories of American Race Riots, and the historical play Melodies on the Wind: When Miles Met Chuck, among others. Lee’s film, I Bear Witness: Untold Stories of American Race Riots, was selected for several film showcases, including the 2025 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. Lee also produces podcasts and film series focused on Black history, with her series “I Bear Witness: Freedom Fighters on the Frontline” winning an Award of Merit from the Accolade Global Film Competition. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including two NAACP President’s Awards, the Teacher of the Year Award, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Stellar Service Award.
