North Carolina A&T Documentary “Our Blues Make Us Gold” Earns Regional Emmy Nomination and Draws National Audience at Smithsonian

Over the course of two consecutive weekends, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University elevated its national profile as its documentary, “Our Blues Make Us Gold,” earned a Nashville/Midsouth Regional Emmy Award nomination and was later featured during a special screening at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. What began as a project to chronicle the university’s institutional history unfolded into a series of milestones that shared the Aggie story across respected cultural and professional platforms.

On Feb. 14, the film was recognized in the Documentary Historical category during the Nashville/Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards ceremony at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. Presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the awards honored excellence in television and video production through a rigorous, peer-judged process that evaluated journalistic integrity, production quality and narrative impact.

The nomination positioned North Carolina A&T’s story alongside some of the region’s most compelling historical productions. Although the documentary did not receive the award, university leaders and alumni said the nomination was a significant distinction. It affirmed the university’s legacy of leadership, access and transformation resonates well beyond campus boundaries and met the highest standards of narrative and production excellence.

“Our Blues Make Us Gold” recounts more than 130 years of institutional progress, tracing the university’s origins as a land-grant institution through its emergence as a national leader in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Using interviews with students, alumni and administrators, the film connects generational memory with forward-looking vision. It captures not only historic events but also the lived experiences of Aggies whose personal journeys reflect the institution’s broader mission of opportunity and impact.

For those who attended the Nashville ceremony, the evening generated both celebration and reflection. Alumni, supporters and university representatives gathered to witness the moment, recognizing how far the institution’s story had traveled and how powerfully it continued to resonate across generations.

On Feb. 21, the documentary was screened in the Oprah Winfrey Theater at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. In a space dedicated to preserving and honoring African American history, the film’s exploration of resilience, scholarship and transformation unfolded before alumni, donors and guests from across the country.

As scenes of campus life, historic achievements and alumni reflections filled the theater, attendees experienced a shared sense of pride. The setting underscored A&T’s place within the broader American narrative and highlighted the cultural importance of preserving and presenting its story current and future generations.

Following the screening, guests gathered at JW Marriott Washington, DC, for a reception that continued the evening’s dialogue. Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Tamara Michel Josserand moderated a fireside conversation featuring filmmakers Ashley Shanté and Brandon Gerard alongside Chancellor James R. Martin II. The discussion centered on the responsibility of stewarding institutional memory, the intentional process behind shaping the documentary’s narrative and the significance of bringing A&T’s story to the forefront of national audiences.

University officials said the back-to-back events signaled A&T’s growing national visibility and demonstrated the strategic role of storytelling in advancing institutional impact. The documentary serves not only as a historical record but also as a declaration of the university’s continued influence in higher education and public life.

As “Our Blues Make Us Gold” reached regional and national audiences, it underscored A&T’s reputation: rooted in resilience, defined by excellence and sustained by a community committed to progress. In capturing the struggle, sacrifice and achievement that shaped A&T, the film reaffirmed that the university’s blues made it gold and that its impact carries far beyond campus.

As Diane Frost Hill shared, the journey is far from over.

“Our Blues Make Us Gold” will be featured at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on March 11. To move from an Emmy nomination to a screening at the Smithsonian, and now to one of the nation’s most influential cultural festivals signals something undeniable. The Aggie story is resonating on a national stage.

This continued momentum reflects expanding visibility and affirms the power of intentional, strategic storytelling to elevate institutional impact. Each milestone strengthens the university’s brand, legacy and cultural footprint.

Yet, as Hill emphasized, the most powerful ambassadors of this story remain Aggies themselves.

“Our Blues Make Us Gold” is currently streaming on Prime Video. Watch it. Share it with family and friends. Forward it to classmates. Host a viewing. Post about it. Extend its reach.

Because our blues, the struggle, the sacrifice and the excellence, truly make us gold. And now, the nation is watching.

AGGIE PRIDE”.

By: Deja Huggins, Advancement Communications Coordinator

Media Contact: dhuggins2@ncat.edu