There’s a commonality among the folks who make their way to Martha’s Vineyard in August:
Cinephiles and culture creators connecting at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. Polar Bears and yogis communing as the sun rises on Inkwell Beach. C-Suite and thought leaders converging for meaningful conversations about creating and shaping change within marginalized communities. HBCU alum and Divine 9 members competing for best swag fits on Circuit Ave.
Last week, I intersected with it all while working as EBONY’s eyes and ears for everything moving Black forward on MV. Whether I was serving as a mistress of ceremonies for the C-Suite Luncheon honoring Phylicia Rashad, moderating The Residency’s The Algorithm and The Art panel with Danielle Brooks, Emmy-winning director Nneka Onuorah and producer Tommy Oliver or attending a live taping of Dreaming in Color podcast in partnership with the Black Freedom Fund, partying with purpose is what draws thousands of Black folk to the Vineyard for sun-soaked days of culture and connectivity.
There’s another sweetness to being on the island: the simple pursuit of Black joy. Day or night, Oak Bluffs’ colorful porches fill with Vineyarders drinking libations and playing spades (or as they did during my evenings at Narragansett House, the card game Tripping or Not Tripping—IYKYK). For those physically inclined, a leisurely bike ride from OB to Edgartown, with a pit stop at Noman’s, might be the reset your nervous system needs.
For me, witnessing and stewarding the island’s history as a sanctuary of respite and reflection restored my soul. Here are highlights of what brought me the most joy.
The Artist’s Way
When asked to moderate MVAAFF’s…
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