Martha’s Vineyard, MA — In a powerful celebration of Black excellence, cultural legacy, and cinematic storytelling, Our Blues Make Us Gold lit up the screen on Saturday, August 2nd, at the renowned Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF).
Featured as part of the festival’s prestigious Vineyard programming, the documentary drew a standing-room-only audience of filmmakers, educators, HBCU advocates, and proud North Carolina A&T alumni. The energy in the room was electric — a true testament to the film’s resonance and cultural relevance. Following the screening, a dynamic Color of Conversation Q&A deepened the emotional impact, transforming the event into an unforgettable evening of pride, purpose, and powerful dialogue.
Directed and produced by Ashley Shanté Deese and Brandon Gerard Deese, Our Blues Make Us Gold is a moving documentary chronicling the legacy of North Carolina A&T State University — the nation’s largest historically Black college and university. In development since 2019, the film offers a powerful narrative of Black scholarship, student activism, and cultural resilience, told through the eyes of alumni, students, and iconic voices, including Vice President Kamala Harris, David Banner, and Rev. Al Sharpton.
The post-screening Color of Conversation Q&A was a standout moment of the afternoon, featuring:
- Ashley Shanté Deese & Brandon Gerard Deese, Co-Producers and Director/Producer of Our Blues Make Us Gold
- Carl S. McNair, CEO of McNair Achievement Programs (MAP), LLC
- Tylik McMillan, Civil Rights Activist
- Moderated by Dr. Irish Spencer, Social Impact Strategist
This in-depth conversation unpacked the documentary’s central themes of cultural legacy, academic excellence, and community transformation. Through the lens of North Carolina A&T, Our Blues Make Us Gold illuminates how Black resilience and scholarship have forever shaped and transformed the world.
“Our goal was always to tell a story that doesn’t just live in history books, but lives in the hearts and minds of those it represents,” said Ashley Shanté Deese. “To screen this at MVAAFF, among our peers, fellow alumni, and cultural leaders, was incredibly meaningful.”
Ashley and Brandon co-founded A2B Entertainment, a production company known for emotionally intimate, visually compelling storytelling. With over 20 years of combined experience, their work bridges global Black experiences with cinematic excellence.
In April 2022, Our Blues Make Us Gold received a $100,000 grant from the Black Experience on Xfinity, which was instrumental in the film’s final development and production stages.
“This documentary is a love letter to HBCUs and to the future we’re still building,” said Brandon Deese. “North Carolina A&T was just the beginning — this is a story about who we are, what we’ve overcome, and what we’re still destined to become.”
Our Blues Make Us Gold is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, where it continues to inspire viewers across generations to celebrate the enduring impact of HBCUs and the communities they serve.
Photo Credit: Adrian Bernard
