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Keyonda Smith

  • Director
  • Producer
  • Cinematographer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Keyonda Smith
"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.
Play demo reel1:58
When Elevators were Racist - The Trailer
6 Videos
9 Photos
Keyonda Smith is known for FastCon: Inequitable Indictments (2025), When Elevators were Racist and Barriers in Bertie (2024).
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    • Awards
      • 54 wins & 23 nominations total

    Photos8

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    Known for

    FastCon: Inequitable Indictments (2025)
    FastCon: Inequitable Indictments
    • Director
    • 2025
    Keyonda Smith in When Elevators were Racist
    When Elevators were Racist
    • Director
      Barriers in Bertie (2024)
      Barriers in Bertie
      • Director
      • 2024
      Deserted in Bertie (2024)
      Deserted in Bertie
      Short
      • Director
      • 2024

      Credits

      IMDbPro

      Director



      • FastCon: Inequitable Indictments
        • directed by
        • Released
        • 2025
      • When Elevators were Racist
        • directed by
      • The Department of Close Enough - A Mixed Media Docufiction
        • director
        • Post-production
        • Short



      • Still Steal Away - Never Sleep Productions (2024)
        Still Steal Away - Never Sleep Productions
        Short
        • directed by
        • 2024
      • Deserted in Bertie (2024)
        Deserted in Bertie
        Short
        • directed by
        • 2024
      • Barriers in Bertie (2024)
        Barriers in Bertie
        • directed by
        • 2024

      Producer



      • FastCon: Inequitable Indictments
        • producer
        • Released
        • 2025



      • Still Steal Away - Never Sleep Productions (2024)
        Still Steal Away - Never Sleep Productions
        Short
        • producer
        • 2024

      Cinematographer



      • FastCon: Inequitable Indictments
        • cinematography
        • Released
        • 2025

      Videos6

      When Elevators were Racist - The Trailer
      Demo Reel 1:58
      When Elevators were Racist - The Trailer
      THE DEPARTMENT OF CLOSE ENOUGH
      Demo Reel 2:28
      THE DEPARTMENT OF CLOSE ENOUGH
      THE DEPARTMENT OF CLOSE ENOUGH
      Demo Reel 2:28
      THE DEPARTMENT OF CLOSE ENOUGH
      TRAILER - Chozen Adventures of Montel and Jr.
      Demo Reel 1:02
      TRAILER - Chozen Adventures of Montel and Jr.
      Trailer: Barriers in Bertie
      Demo Reel 2:23
      Trailer: Barriers in Bertie
      Still Steal Away TRAILER
      Demo Reel 2:41
      Still Steal Away TRAILER
      Deserted in Bertie Trailer
      Demo Reel 2:45
      Deserted in Bertie Trailer

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