A Portrait of the American Dream: A film by Ralph Lauren

Through the voices of students, faculty, and alumni of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, the film explores style as a means of inspiration and aspiration, empowerment of community and self, and a tool of resistance-and reveals the making of the Polo Ralph Lauren Exclusively for Morehouse and Spelman Colleges campaign.
The film is curated, directed, and produced by HBCU alumni, experience the formation of historically Black colleges and universities and their resounding impact on American culture, embodied in the lives and legacies of their students.
Cinematography by Azariah Bjørvig

[@rodneystrong2652]

This film is tremendous! The ending is especially significant. Robert Franklin asking; “where are your 90”.👍🏾👏🏾

[@DizzyPablo-zf3ek]

Yesssirr Amen Big Bro It’s time to Finish What The Very Most Right Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr 💯💯💪🏾💪🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@blogpaytv2102]

Thank you for sharing this documentary. As an African I delight to see and know how my brothers and sisters are changing lives and living a legacy. Well Read Well Spoken Well Travelled Well Dressed Well Balance

[@UTBigVic]

best collaboration i've ever seen

[@WilliamJohnsonmusic]

Incredible film. My wife is a graduate of Spelman and her brother graduated from Morehouse. I myself graduated from an HBCU as well.

[@ranwalker1]

As a graduate of Morehouse, I am enormously proud that I can share this inspiring documentary with my family and friends. Great work!

[@snowmachinecrazy]

What a wonderful collection and documentary

[@LivinLife7149]

Wonderful!!! Beautifully done!! HBCU4LIFE

[@vinessabryant9826]

Thank you! This is an amazing and uplifting film!👍🏾👍🏾💯

[@behroozshahdaftar4209]

Thank you. I found this video extremely moving, inspiring, motivating. Much love and respect.

[@thomaswilbornjr3128]

What a beautiful film. I enjoyed this a great deal!

[@VONALEXANDRIA]

I am a fashion designer, I am a black female designer as well. Although I did not attend an HBCU, I understand the significance and empowerment of this. As that is why I partially became a designer. Von Alexandria

[@user-ki8ei6mi4w]

Continue these customs please, thank you

[@Tattles94]

Beautiful and inspiring!

[@BearingMySeoul]

This documentary is really beautiful. I learned a lot and the clothes are lovely too. 😊 (My inner librarian is freaking out at everyone holding that nearly 100-year-old yearbook tho!)

[@emikocastro5180]

Great show each hbcu has a great history

[@asam3054]

This documentary was inspiring, insightful, and beautifully made. As an HBCU grad, this makes me extremely proud of my amazing fellow HBCU graduates and of my own journey. The Talented 10th discussion was mind provoking and something I will continue to carry with me. The statement “who are the 90th you are called to serve” was the perfect way to end. It’s a call to action for us all. Challenge accepted. 🙏🏾

[@terezwatkins9753]

Ralph Lauren's define the word. Fashion house and classic American..that Man rivals Milan.The documentary Him and his team presented made Me curious about Morehouse/ Spelman University. Alumni suggestion... You all should have Spike Lee make a documentary on Henry Morehouse Hope/Spelman University.. I think I'd be historical

[@worthemman]

The question I have now is, will there now be a Ralph Lauren scholarship for HBCU's, or have we once again sold our people's history for the cost of integrating into a clothing brand . Let me say this, I applaud RL for shining the light on HBCU's and their history, but how are you helping them now move toward a better future. Don't only fill the need to dress black bodies without the importance of "addressing" the black minds. Make the RL in the brand mean: R esearch & L earn

[@MrBUGS713]

Take your ken advice and research before you comment. You would have found your answer

[@carnival30]

This is beautiful.

[@ladimu1]

Absolutely.

[@Rocksteddybelmont]

Nice

[@lyndawilliams4570]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤

[@jairsilvaferreira2798]

Nice.

[@CymoneHicks-lz6fz]

💜💜💜💜💜

[@CymoneHicks-lz6fz]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@AutumnMargorieBabyA]

Who is speaking at 9:00? I cannot find the name

[@CymoneHicks-lz6fz]

💎💎💎💎💎

[@isaiah7640]

Why are they never smiling !

[@clintmcneil2407]

Isaiah AS D SAYING GOES MODELS DONT SMILE, REAL TALK😆

[@IamJermeezyMathis]

Aurelius Scott..my 3rd cousin!

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

More like hoodies and sweat pants.

[@santamagar133]

My name is krishna bahadur kami

[@santamagar133]

All rounder

[@santamagar133]

From gulmi nepal

[@santamagar133]

Mankot gulmi

[@moco3624]

Not buying RL HBCUwear. This collection is a copy from a black owned company. The Black Ivy League. SMH we as a people will still fall for any thing

[@moco3624]

@@jaybruno3571 ohhhh I see 👀. You're a troll and definitely not from an HBCU 😆. Because if you were, you would know what we call each other. Furthermore, you didn't even make a purchase. I doubt you even attended. How do I know this because RL didn't make a varsity jacket. He made the suit jacket and blazer. But I will say I do like RL restaurant. I wish they would bring back the cigar lounge and caviar bar. But im sure you know that. 😉

[@jaybruno3571]

@@moco3624 so I have to have been from HBCU to purchase anything from this collection sis? 🤣🙄🙄🙄 They did make a varsity jacket with the Mascot on the back..it's a beautiful piece that gets tons of compliments..Ralph will always be timeless sweetie 😁

[@moco3624]

@@jaybruno3571 Bless your dear heart 🤔 when the collection was shown at the alumni meeting ( same collection that is on the website) no varsity 😂🤣. But hey I'm sure RL made a varsity especially for you 😉. But enjoy your "sold out" (which it isnt) Spelman or Morehouse apparel. Stay Blessed

[@jaybruno3571]

@@moco3624 sold out on the first run, they made a 2nd run bc people are buying them like crazy👍..just like RL did a 2nd run on their Yankees x Polo line..silly goose

[@Mr.MBarrett]

As much as I want to celebrate this film, I struggle. What began as a celebration of legacy, history and resilience through education, became a commodified fashion advertisement for a white billionaire's philanthropy. Naturally, I resist the politics of respectability as a debunked illusion of perception based upon the white gaze, but I enjoyed seeing the experience of the collective, disciplined and astute in regard to academic rigor and focus within these institutions. However, the more the film progressed, the more commercial the images became, the more references to Ralph Lauren were made, and the more the attention was placed upon the fashion aesthetic opposed to the educational culture and context that has made these institutions successful. Unequivocally, I loved the history but overall, the film feels like a whitewashed compromise and a tool to garner fashion sales.

[@chessecake578]

Fun fact spelman is named after a white women

[@GeorgiaWhisper]

Thanks for sharing. I'll definitely look into that.