Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story | Film Screening and Q&A

Explore Philadelphia’s early history through film and conversation with Becoming American, presented in connection with At Liberty. How do we understand the founding of the United States, and whose stories shape our understanding of this pivotal period in American history? Presented in connection with the Arthur Ross Gallery’s exhibition At Liberty: Life in the City of Brotherly Love During the Early Republic, this screening of Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story invites audiences to consider the people, communities, and experiences that shaped Philadelphia and the emerging nation. As the nation’s early capital, Philadelphia was a center of political debate, cultural exchange, and social change. The film examines the city’s complex history and the diverse individuals and communities whose experiences complicate and enrich traditional narratives of American independence and nationhood. Together, the film and exhibition offer an opportunity to reflect on life in early America, the ideals and contradictions at the heart of the nation’s founding, and the many perspectives that continue to shape how this history is understood today. Following the screening, guests are invited to stay for a Q&A discussion with host and executive producer, Oliver St. Clair Franklin. A light reception in the lobby will follow. This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.