Black History Month: Taste x Culture | Martha’s Vineyard

Talk to anyone who’s visited Martha’s Vineyard for the first time, and they will tell you they can’t wait to go back. Being on the island is a vibe that’s hard to describe.

For generations, it has been a place to vacation and just be…which wasn’t always the case in America, given the segregated beaches and pools and more back in the day.

Shearer Cottage in Oak Bluffs was listed in The Green Book,  the Negro Motorist Green Book that Black people used when they were driving while Black throughout the country.

Throughout the month of February, TV One is celebrating with highlights of Black History and Experience in some significant cities across the country.

This series of features includes locations on Chef Jernard’s culinary tour that you’ll see in the all-new series Savor the City premiering this spring soon on TV One.

Did you know these tidbits about the Vineyard?

The Oak Bluffs community grew from laborers, runaways and fishermen, to one of the top vacation spots in America for affluent Black folks.

In the ‘40s, it was the place to be for Harlem Renaissance writers, artists and thinkers like Dorothy West, who lived there full time, Paul Robeson and Langston Hughes.

Congressman Adam Clayton Powell encouraged people to visit the island and in the 1950s Upper and middle class Black people started buying and renting homes in Oak Bluffs. Those gingerbread houses aren’t just cute, these folks were building generational wealth and legacy!

The Arts

These days, people call the Vineyard the “Black Hamptons.” During “Black August” you are sure to spot a ton of celebrities. And while you might not recognize the business, legal and political movers and shakers… they are there. 

Black August is also when you can attend the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, where the Obamas, Tyler Perry, Viola Davis and Tracee Ellis Ross are among the many stars who descend on the island and talk about their films.  TV One even premiered Marvin Sapp’s biopic “Never Would Have Made It” at this festival in 2022.

Source: Pool / Getty

You can also go to the annual book festival and hear incredible writers like Will Packer, Fawn Weaver, Sunny Hostin and Nicole Hannah Jones discuss their new books. 

Where to Stay

There are many options when it comes to vacation rental, but be warned, these places book up fast and early. 

• Akwaaba House is a beautiful gingerbread that’s walking distance to the beach 
• Black Ivy Cottage has an upscale beach house vibe and you can chill out back on the deck and watch the waves.
• Inkwell Beach Cottage is one of three properties owned by the Inkwell Haven Hospitality Family and they have a cute little shop called Jubilee where you can pick up books, jewelry, and decorative things for your home. 

Source: John Greim / Getty

Dining

Now, keep in mind…this is an island. And like any beach town, it’s never really about the food. However, there are a few spots where you can find some good eats!

The Edgartown Diner is a fun throwback with all kinds of knick knacks to explore. Ralston Francis and team offer an extensive breakfast and lunch menu to satisfy any hungry stomach. 

The Orange Peel Bakery is a hidden gem that bakes the most exquisite breads and pizzas in an outdoor stone oven. 

For dinner, check out The Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine, where you can feast on authentic Jamaican jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish, oxtail and curry goat. 

Source: Boston Globe / Getty

Being on The Vineyard with so many good peeps and good times is a very special experience. For one last magical moment, head over to the Flying Horses Carousel and take a ride on the oldest operating platform carousel in the country and try to grab a brass ring. Even if you miss, you’ve already won. 

Be sure to tap in to Savor the City with Chef Jernard when they explore the Vineyard, Oak Bluffs and everything the island has to offer! 

Join the conversation on social and let us know what Martha’s Vineyard experiences we missed.