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 The Color of Conversation program with Netflix, I couldn’t say yes fast enough at the opportunity to discuss their upcoming documentary, Jean-Michel Basquiat. Co-director Quinn Whitney Wilson is the first Black woman to helm a story on the prolific artist’s life, produced in partnership with the estate co-administered by his sisters, Jeanine Heriveaux and Lisane Basquiat. The film features never-before-seen footage and explores the influence of his mother, who sharpened his voice as an artist.
The Spirit of Sisterhood
Stephanie Rance, co-founder of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, gathered guests for the C-Suite Luncheon honoring Phylicia Rashad at the Farm Neck Golf Club. Attendees included: Joy Reid, LeToya Luckett, Tonya Lewis Lee, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Sheryl Swoopes, Lonnie Ali and many more women who lead, create, build and imagine for an afternoon of food and fellowship.
AARP’s CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan led the conversation with legendary actress and director. When asked about how she views her work and the legacy she’s built telling Black stories, Rashad said:
“There were all human experiences, weren’t they? Don’t women everywhere want the same thing?,” she said. “And what do we want? Let’s say from the partner, the husband, the wife. What do we want but love and protection? Women everywhere want the same thing. We do, and okay, okay, so whether it’s Ma Punk, Aunt Esther, Clair Huxtable, or whoever, what I want my work to do more than anything else is to demonstrate that as human beings we are much more alike than we could ever be.”
Lobster Rolls On the Go
Between screenings and conversations, my hunger can get the best of me (Hi, my name is Cori Murray, and I get hangry). Luckily, there are plenty of food trucks on the grounds at MVAAFF. The Hamptons Lobster Company‘s jerk lobster rolls were recommended by a festivalgoer, and after the first bite, I knew the spicy succulence of warm butter melting into the potato brioche bun made it a winner. It tasted even better while eating it on the porch of Narragansett House, where the number one house rule is relax.
The Residency’s Special Delivery
Elaine Welteroth brought her maternal health organization, birthFUND, to the island through a bespoke partnership with The Residency, a curated social hub of wellness and cultural programming. CNN’s Abby Phillip moderated an intimate fireside chat with Welteroth and Mielle’s founder Monique Rodriguez, who opened up about her personal experience of losing a son.
“I felt like I knew everything about labor and delivery. I knew everything there was to take care of your body and doing the right thing as a nurse,” said Rodriguez, who started her career as a registered nurse and worked in the field for five years. “I felt like I did everything I was supposed to do right, and it still didn’t save my son. And it was the result of a broken system.”
Rodriguez, now a mom of two, has joined birthFUND as a partner in supporting midwifery education and awareness.
Shopping While Black on the Vineyard
Long before my plans were set for Martha’s Vineyard, I knew my downtime would be spent traversing the Vineyard in support of legacy and emerging Black-owned businesses. After a quick spin in Jubilee, whose decor honors the ancestors who established roots on the island for generations to come, I walked a few doors down to Maison Black’s pop-up experience on Circuit Ave. In a moment of Black-people-meet serendipity, founder Tori Nichel was hosting a conversation with former EBONY editor-in-chief Amy DuBois Barnett about her debut novel, If I Ruled the World. Days later, I made my way to Bee Blunt’s new permanent home at 75 Main Street in Vineyard Haven. The lifestyle and apparel brand founded by Portia Blunt features its Rest & Respect collection, plus candles from Sanctuaire with MV-inspired scent names Inkwell, Cottager’s Corner and Eastville.
Power to the People
Black Freedom Fund hosted its first event on MV, The Precipice, bringing together individuals in support of and awareness of its core vision: “Every endowed dollar is capital controlled by us and for us, built to sustain Black communities for generations to come.” The set piece for the evening was a conversation with Ashley Shelton, President & CEO of The Power Coalition; Lisa Holder, President of Equal Justice Society; and Georgia Fort, journalist and founder of BLCK Press and The Center for Broadcast Journalism, moderated by Marc Philpart, CEO of Black Freedom Fund and recently named to Time’s The Closers list.
Until next year, Martha’s Vineyard.