By Tavon N. Thomasson 
AFRO Intern

Morgan State University is now home to an Emmy Award-winning production team. On June 21, at the 67th National Capital Chesapeake Bay Emmy Awards – or Capital Emmys – the university received its first individual Emmy for the documentary “History of a National Treasure: The Documentary Story of Morgan State University.” 

Members of Morgan State University’s award-winning team pose on the red carpet after the 67th Capital Emmy Awards, where “History of a National Treasure: The Documentary Story of Morgan State University” earned the university its first individual Emmy. Shown here, narrator Randall Pinkston (left); independent digital content producer Trae Mitchell, who also took home an Emmy for separate work that night; School of Global Journalism and Communication dean Jackie Jones; director of the Center for New Media and Strategic Initiatives Dewayne Wickham; Maryland Public Television’s chief content officer Travis Mitchell, who received an Emmy in a separate category; and documentary editor Ivery Johnson. Credit: Morgan State University

At the helm of the project was Dewayne Wickham, dean emeritus of Morgan’s School of Global Journalism and Communication (SGJC) and founding director of the Center for New Media and Strategic Initiatives, which produced the Emmy-winning documentary recognized in the Documentary/Historical category.

“Our Emmy win affirms the vision that President Wilson and I shared in founding the Center: to amplify Black voices and preserve stories that might otherwise go untold. Morgan’s story is one of those stories,” said Wickham. “This is not just a win for Morgan but for America’s entire Black storytelling tradition.”

Morgan State University wasn’t the only local winner at the 67th Capital Emmys. Visit Baltimore, the city’s official destination marketing organization, earned recognition in the Short Form Content category for its video, “Celebrating Baltimore’s Civil Rights Legacy.” 

The Rev. Alvin C. Hathaway (left), producer Tracey Johnson, featured talent Evita Robinson , and Visit Baltimore chief marketing officer Trish McClean celebrate their Emmy-winning video, “Celebrating Baltimore’s Civil Rights Legacy,” at the 67th Capital Emmy Awards on June 21. Credit: LinkedIn / Visit Baltimore

The video highlights Baltimore’s rich civil rights legacy, featuring figures like Thurgood Marshall and Lillie Carrol Jackson. The project was led by producer Tracey Johnson and director Bereng Monareng, and featured talent Evita Robinson, with Rev. Alvin C. Hathaway, who served as its subject matter expert. 

“It’s one of the highest recognitions you can have. And in television production, it says that our story matters. It says that our community has worth and in an area where people are just knocking the Black community trying to tear down all the work that we’ve done, this sends a signal,” said Hathaway. “This sends a comment on the horizon that says, no, we will not be denied. Our story will be affirmed. We will continue to tell the story of our rich and amazing legacy.”

See the full list of Capital Emmys winners at this link.