We Are All Americans : Stories from Three Road Trips Across Our Nation in the Long Wake of 9/11

A collection of interviews and portraits from transcontinental road trips in 2001, 2011, and 2021 capturing how Americans experienced 9/11 and the decades of conflict and change that followed.

In the days after September 11, 2001, journalist Peter Laufer set out on a cross-country journey to capture America at its most vulnerable and united. Traveling from Washington, DC, to California, he documented the voices, faces, and emotions of a diverse cross section of citizens grappling with tragedy, resilience, and what it meant to be American in that moment.

Ten years later, and again on the 20th anniversary, he retraced his trip across the country, reconnecting with Americans to learn how their perspectives had shifted as the nation healed, adapted, and faced new challenges. The result is a remarkable chronicle spanning two decades (2001, 2011, and 2021), one that reveals both the enduring spirit and the evolving identity of America. 

With raw honesty and heartfelt testimony, We Are All Americans commemorates the 25th anniversary of 9/11 through the words and images of typical people whose stories speak to the heart of our shared humanity.

Key Features:

• Firsthand interviews with Americans reflecting on 9/11 and its aftermath?
• Three cross-country journeys capturing diverse perspectives across states and regions
• Intimate portrait photography paired with interviews
• Documents 20 years of national transformation through lived experience

This deeply moving portrait offers a rare and authentic look at how a nation—and its citizens—continue to define what it means to be American