Smithsonian to Screen “Our Blues Make Us Gold” on Feb. 21

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 29, 2026) – “Our Blues Make Us Gold,” the powerful Emmy-nominated documentary film about the history and ascent of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, will be presented at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture during Black History Month as part of its Through the African American Lens Series.

“Our Blues Make Us Gold” will be shown Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. in Oprah Winfrey Theater at the museum in support of its At the Vanguard exhibition which weaves together stories of ingenuity, artistry and resistance.

A conversation with Brandon Gerard, who co-directed the film with his production partner and wife, Ashley Shanté, through their production company, From A2B Studios, will follow the screening.

The documentary explores the legacy and global influence of America’s largest historically Black college and university, N.C. A&T. It features commentary from prominent alumni such as Janice Bryant-Howroyd, founder and CEO of ActOne Group, as well as a range of influential leaders such as artist/actor David Banner and the Rev. Al Sharpton examining the contributions of HBCUs to the world.

Tickets are available online at https://shorturl.at/iDoIS. The event is free, but theater capacity is limited to 350 people.

This event comes on the heels of the Feb. 14 ceremony where “Our Blues Make Us Gold” is nominated for an Emmy award in the Nashville/Midsouth Region, which includes North Carolina, Tennessee and parts of Alabama.

“Our Blues Make Us Gold” has seen extraordinary success since its initial release and continues to unite alumni, friends and university leaders on its national journey. In production since 2019, the film earned a $100,000 completion grant in 2022 from the Black Experience on Xfinity that supported enhancement and finalization of the project.

In 2024, Comcast Xfinity chose the completed film for a two-year run on its streaming platforms – Xfinity, X1, Flex and the Black Experience. In summer 2025, the film went on a multi-city theatrical tour, screening in Charlotte, Durham, and Greensboro, North Carolina, and Atlanta, attracting appreciative and effusive audiences.

In June, the documentary was tapped by Prime Video for streaming on its massive global platform, where it continues to be available free for Amazon Prime subscribers and for rent by the general public. Two months later, it screened at the star-studded Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival in Massachusetts.