The Design Advocacy Group presents its next discussion, The Power of Place, in VIA’s Screening Room, featuring Oliver St. Clair Franklin.

As the nation approaches the Semiquincentennial, public commemorations continue to shape how Americans understand the country’s founding, heritage, and ideals. Yet the contributions of Black Americans during the founding era have often been overlooked in major national celebrations—from the Centennial and Bicentennial to today’s 250th anniversary observances.

In this presentation, Franklin will explore how Philadelphia is challenging traditional narratives of the nation’s founding and broadening public understanding of its history. The discussion will highlight Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story, a feature-length film that examines the founding era through the experiences of Philadelphia’s African community, along with other local initiatives that are helping to democratize the Semiquincentennial and create a more inclusive historical narrative.

A distinguished civic leader, filmmaker, and cultural advocate, Franklin curated one of the nation’s first Black Film Festivals (1972–1978) before producing documentary films. He later became Philadelphia’s first Deputy City Representative for Arts and Culture, serving from 1984 to 1990. Following his public service, he held executive leadership roles in financial services and was Co-Managing Partner of the first U.S. mutual fund to invest in the Republic of South Africa.

Franklin has served on numerous civic and cultural boards, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, The Philadelphia Foundation, and the Independence Historic Trust. He also served as Honorary British Consul in Philadelphia and was awarded both OBE and CBE honors by Queen Elizabeth II. A Baltimore native, Franklin is a graduate of Lincoln University and Oxford University and is an Honorary Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.