Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam

05/08/2026

May 8, 1967 — 59 years ago today, Muhammad Ali was indicted for refusing induction into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.”

At the height of his career, Ali risked prison and was stripped of his heavyweight title for standing by his beliefs.

For many Black Americans, Ali became a powerful symbol of resistance during the Vietnam era.

05/06/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Some Black GIs painted “Soul Brother” or “Soul Man” on their helmets during the war.

This small symbol signaled identity in chaotic combat. It was a quiet act of survival — and pride.

Follow Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam for more symbols of Black identity in Vietnam.

04/30/2026

Great to see Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam featured in the latest newsletter from The Better Angels Society.

We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support as we embark on our festival run!

04/22/2026

MEET McKINLEY “MAC” HUBBARD

Army (1968-69) & Former VA Therapist

After returning from serving in Vietnam, Mac found his purpose in helping other veterans heal. Starting as a clerk at the VA, he worked his way up to becoming a therapist who led group counseling sessions for Vietnam veterans.

“PTSD wasn’t even recognized until 1980, before they talked about 'war neurosis' and ‘shell-shocked’, and people used to say they're the same. They're not the same. Totally different things. But my whole thing has been with these Vietnam vets is to help them.”

Follow Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam for more stories from the veterans who lived it.

04/09/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Soul and R&B music became a lifeline for Black GIs.

From The Temptations to James Brown and Otis Redding, music brought joy and a sense of connection to home.

Some soldiers carried record players; others crowded around a single radio, turning barracks into brief sanctuaries.

Follow Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam for more human stories from the Vietnam War.

03/26/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Confederate Flags Were Flown on Some U.S. Bases in Vietnam.

Many Black GIs recall seeing Confederate flags hung openly in barracks, jeeps, and tents — sometimes right beside the American flag.

For Black soldiers, already risking their lives daily, these flags weren’t “heritage.”

They were a warning.

Veterans say the flags fueled constant tension and created a hostile environment within their own units — long before facing the enemy outside the wire.

These are the stories often left out of history.

Follow Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam for more.

03/18/2026

MEET JOHN SCATES
Army (1965–66)

John Scates returned home from Vietnam, where he served in the 101st Airborne, and quickly learned that he and other Vietnam vets wouldn’t be receiving a hero’s welcome.

“My aunt and uncle, when I landed at Travis Air Force Base, picked me up. And Aunt Dorothy told me that I had to get out of that uniform. And she made it very clear to me what the country's feelings was about soldiers in uniform.”

Follow Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam for more stories from the veterans who lived it.

03/12/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Some Black Vietnam Veterans Joined the Black Panther Party After Returning Home.

For many Black GIs, the struggle didn’t end when they left Vietnam — it intensified.
After facing discrimination in the military, serving disproportionately on the front lines, and returning to unequal treatment at home, some Black veterans found alignment with the Black Panther Party’s message of dignity, self-defense, and community empowerment.

Follow Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam for more stories of Black identity in uniform.

02/25/2026

MEET CLAYVON WESLEY
Air Force Medic (1969–70)

Clayvon Wesley served as an Air Force medic in Vietnam. Along with the challenges of war, he also faced racism from those in positions of authority.

“There were still sergeants who felt African Americans should stay in their place. You know, ‘who do you think you are?’ That kind of racism.”

Follow Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam for more stories from the veterans who lived it.

02/19/2026

Earlier this week, we had the incredible honor of premiering Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles.

The response to the film was deeply moving. After the screening, one audience member, with tears in her eyes, shared that her brothers served in Vietnam and are still living with the lasting effects of the war, like many of the veterans in our film.

Moments like that are why this film was made: to give Black servicemen and their families the space to tell their stories, in their own words.

We’re also honored to share that the film has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the festival.

Grateful for the opportunity, grateful for the veterans and their families who trusted us with their stories, and excited for what’s ahead.

02/09/2026

Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam will make its world premiere next week at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles.

Here are our screening times:

📅 Mon, Feb 16 — 11:10 AM (The Culver Theater – Aud #3)

📅 Wed, Feb 18 — 12:30 PM (Cinemark Baldwin Hills XD – Screen #13)

📅 Fri, Feb 20 — 12:30 PM (Cinemark Baldwin Hills XD – Screen #13)

We can’t wait to share this story with audiences in Los Angeles!

An in-depth chronicle of the Black experience at home and abroad during and after the Vietnam War, told by those who lived it.