Is The Lowdown based on a true story?

This new series, available on Disney Plus in the UK, centers around Lee Raybon, played by Hawke, who believes he’s a ‘truthstorian’ dedicated to exposing injustice and championing what’s right.

Lee, a bookstore owner who also reports on local news, investigates issues in his community and discovers widespread corruption. As he uncovers more than he expected, he’s forced to safeguard his family and the information he’s found.

Everyone’s going to be discussing the new series, and many are wondering if it’s inspired by a true story. Keep reading to learn more.

Is The Lowdown based on a true story?

While ‘The Lowdown’ is a fictional story, it’s based on the life of a real person named Lee Roy Chapman.

Chapman, a historian who taught himself the craft, passed away in 2015. He’s remembered for his research into Tate Brady’s role in the Tulsa race massacre of 1921 – a horrific act of white supremacist violence considered one of the worst in American history.

Research by Chapman uncovered that Tate Brady, the founder of Tulsa, had ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Chapman detailed these findings in a 2011 article, “The Nightmare of Dreamland: Tate Brady and the Battle for Greenwood,” published by This Land Press.

Following the release of his report, people began to reconsider Brady’s impact on Tulsa, leading to the removal of his name from streets, organizations, and neighborhoods.

Chapman and Sterlin Harjo, the creator of The Lowdown, worked together at This Land Press and became friends. Chapman later served as the inspiration for the character Lee Raybon in The Lowdown.

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Though the show is completely made up, Sterlin Harjo shared with Entertainment Weekly that his experience at TLP was incredibly inspiring and educational.

It’s about actively working to improve your local community and noticing the good things happening around you. Many of the documentaries I created for ‘This Land’ focused on simply telling the honest story.

Producer Chuck Foxen explained that Lee Roy Chapman was a pioneer in uncovering and publicizing the connection between Tate Brady and the KKK, well before discussions about renaming the Brady District began. Chapman actively researched and informed the people of Tulsa about this historical information – he was a dedicated local reporter covering the story.

According to Sydney Harjo, the series ‘Lowdown’ aims to celebrate the life and personality of Lee Roy. Beyond that, the show takes creative liberties as a work of fiction, he told the Boston Herald.

Although Chapman and Raybon share similar methods for solving mysteries and a love of rare books, the TV series focuses on lighter investigations of local cases. Hawke’s character often finds himself in trouble as he reveals secrets that people have kept hidden for years.

So, Ethan Hawke isn’t just starring in this new series, he’s also one of the producers. It’s about this really interesting character, Lee Raybon – he’s a local guy in Tulsa who calls himself a ‘truthstorian’ and basically digs up dirt as a citizen journalist. Apparently, he’s got a real knack for getting into trouble because he’s so focused on finding out what’s *really* going on.

After Lee publishes his newest investigation – a detailed look into the influential Washberg family – the unexpected suicide of Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson) occurs. This leads Lee to believe he’s uncovered a significant story.

The new series, The Lowdown, starts on Disney+ in the UK on Wednesday, September 23rd. The first two episodes will be available immediately, with new episodes added each week. You can subscribe to Disney+ for as little as £4.99 per month.

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