Introduction to a New Documentary
Rachel Maddow has set up her next documentary film project in her home network. MSNBC has acquired the documentary, which will be the second film from the surprise host’s production company.
The Documentary: Andrew Young
The documentary is called Andrew Young: The Dirty Work and it focuses on the life of Andrew Young, a leader in the civil rights movement who worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and later became a member of Congress and the mayor of Atlanta. The film will be broadcast on Friday, October 17th at 9 p.m. ET after a special edition of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show dedicated to the life and legacy of Young.
The Significance of the Documentary
According to Rachel Maddow, "At a time when confrontation with the government and basic protests are back in the center of American political life, the civil rights movement is more than just a moral cornerstone for our country – it is a lively, breathing, practical manual, on how to fight for what is right, and how to make that fight worthwhile." Maddow believes that Andrew Young’s story is not just a romanticized tale, but a coarse-grained truth about what it takes to build and maintain a profitable movement.
A Sneak Peek
An extended first look at the project will debut in New York on October 11 at the annual fan event of the "MSNBCLIVE ’25: That is us". The film is co-produced by Left/Right and produced by Maddow, and it will tell Andrew Young’s story from his beginning as a pastor to his crucial work during the civil rights movement in his own words.
Andrew Young’s Career
The 93-year-old Young will reflect on his career, including his debut in national politics as a US representative from Georgia, his time as an American ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter, and his two terms as the mayor of Atlanta. In the film, Young looks back on his career and talks about "The Dirty Work" or "the calm, difficult work that enables landmark change".
Young’s Reflections
"I was born at the right time and happened to be in the right places to be part of the civil rights movement that has changed America," said Andrew Young in an explanation of the film. The film follows the first publication of Maddow’s production company, From Russia with Lev, which premiered in 2024 and was later nominated for an Emmy Award in 2025.
Conclusion
Andrew Young: The Dirty Work is a documentary that provides a unique perspective on the life and legacy of Andrew Young, a leader in the civil rights movement. The film is set to premiere on October 17th and will provide a coarse-grained truth about what it takes to build and maintain a profitable movement.
