I was drawn to make American Dignity because history doesn’t simply live in the past—it moves through us, shaping how we act today. In this film, Charles Mauldin and Charles Douglas III stand at opposite ends of history yet walk the same road: one, a foot soldier on Bloody Sunday who never stopped marching, the other, a modern organizer who knocks on doors to protect the hard-won right to vote. Their voices -- free of narration, almost as if an on-the-scene podcast conversation --drive the story, making it clear that movements cannot depend on singular heroes. They must be sustained by the many, by those willing to step up—again and again.

With American Dignity, I wanted to explore how we lead during historic, transformative moments, and the responsibility each generation inherits when doing so. The work is never finished, and what we do now will determine what remains. I’m an Emmy Award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and storytelling strategist focused on leadership, resilience, and transformative movements. Born in London and raised in America and Canada, I have reported from conflict zones as an NBC News war correspondent in the Middle East and have spent my career exploring the power of narrative in times of change. Now professionally based in Seattle, I directed the critically acclaimed documentaries Independent America and Rising from Ruins, which examine self-reliance, recovery, and community-driven change. With American Dignity, I continue my examination of how history, courage, and community leadership shape our democratic future. -- Hanson Hosein, Director