Documentary Series: Sikh Americans — Development Phase
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ !
For more than a century, Sikh Americans have lived, worked, farmed, marched, served, and sacrificed on this land. We built railroads and orchards, fought injustice in courts and in Congress, stood guard at gurdwaras and army bases, fed neighbors through pandemics, and rebuilt after hate crimes.
We have been here. We have shaped America.
Yet there has never been a dedicated documentary series on Sikh Americans — even though respective communities have funded groundbreaking series on:
- Asian Americans
- African Americans
- Latino Americans
- Muslim Americans
Sikhs remain missing from the American public narrative.
In classrooms across 21 states, Sikh history is finally being introduced — but there aren't enough high-quality multimedia resources for teachers, students, or the public. Most Americans still cannot distinguish a Sikh from any other faith group. Misunderstanding breeds harm.
We cannot wait for others to tell our story. We must tell it ourselves — with dignity, excellence, and truth.
How Sikh values — seva, courage, equality, resilience — helped shape America.
This is not simply history.
It is identity, belonging, safety, and pride.
How Donors Will Help
This campaign funds the development phase — the foundation required before production:
- Archival research & digitization
- Interviews with historians, families & pioneers
- Travel to historic Sikh American sites
- Script development for six episodes
- Archival footage documentation & licensing planning
- Production planning and community review
By supporting this phase, donors directly unlock major PBS distribution opportunities, academic partnerships, and future institutional grants.
Call to Action
For the first time in American history, we have the scholars, archives, community support, and media leadership to tell this story at the scale it deserves.
Now we need Sangat's support.
We invite you to be part of history.
To stand for Sikh representation.
To give our children a story they will carry with pride.
To ensure the world sees who we are — and who we have always been.
Please join us.
Let’s write our history — together.
“The wounds of misrepresentation heal only when a community tells its own story.”
Donate. Share. Become part of this historic legacy.
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