Description

Hiding in the Walls sheds light on the hidden crisis of lead poisoning in America, a problem affecting millions today. Lead-based products, particularly paint, are still present in homes built before the 1970s, and long-term exposure can seriously harm health, brain development, and cognitive function. Children exposed to lead are more likely to face academic challenges, behavioral issues, and even involvement with the criminal justice system. Shockingly, despite its known dangers, lead-based paint remained common in American homes for decades after it was banned by the League of Nations in 1922.

In cities like Baltimore, Maryland, where the legacy of lead paint intersects with a history of racially discriminatory housing policies, the impact has disproportionately affected Black communities and neighborhoods of concentrated poverty. Awareness of lead’s effects has also fueled stigma, while a predatory financial industry has grown around lawsuits and settlements.

This documentary re-examines lead poisoning not just as a health issue, but as a root cause of many systemic challenges in affected communities. Hiding in the Walls explores the fraught history of lead in low-income housing, exposes how lead poisoning became an accepted norm in urban America, and follows the journeys of adult survivors determined to reclaim their stories and reshape the narrative.

For more information or to register offline please contact Sue Moss, library engagement coordinator at 804-828-3737 or mossr2@vcu.edu.