Branded Content
Behind the Scenes with Travel + Leisure and The Greensboro Six
Myriad collaborated with Travel + Leisure and Wyndham to tell the story of six men whose actions helped integrate the game of golf. Their story is one of conviction, in more ways than one, and a hard-fought battle to make space for Black golfers in the sport.
Our behind the scenes featurette digs into the making of the branded content. It also highlights Director Eternal Polk and his perspective on the importance of brands in the storytelling process.
In 1955, one week after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, six Black men, led by Dr. George Simkins, started a local movement of their own by defiantly playing a round at the then whites-only Gillespie Golf Course.
They were later arrested, convicted of trespassing, and spent 15 days in jail. Seven years and numerous court cases later, their actions would help lead to the desegregation of Gillespie and the game of golf as we know it.
To commemorate the legacy of the Greensboro Six, Travel + Leisure and Wyndham Rewards commissioned a mural designed to lift up the story, while celebrating the vital role Gillespie plays in the community today through their work with First Tee – Central Carolina.
Created by award-winning, Brooklyn-based artist Vincent Ballentine, the art piece serves as inspiration to a new generation of golfers—reminding them as they walk in the footsteps of those before them—that anything is possible.
Ballentine’s vision and work was formally unveiled during a special celebration at Gillespie on August 5, 2025 ahead of the PGA TOUR’s 85th Annual Wyndham Championship.
Along with the mural, Travel + Leisure and Wyndham Rewards commissioned a short film to document their story. The film won a Telly Award in the Advocacy & Causes Branded Content category. The category recognizes "Branded content produced to advocate for social issues and improve civil and social life."
The Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, production companies.
This mural is a special reminder of our tremendous history in Greensboro, and the impact The Greensboro Six had on the sport of golf and beyond.
In the behind the scenes featurette, we examine the groundbreaking actions of the group and why branded content is an effective way to tell stories that are meaningful for both the brand and their surrounding community.
We enlisted Director Eternal Polk to be the creative lead. His collaborative film with John Deere, Gaining Ground, piqued our interest at TribecaX 2023, and we knew he'd be the perfect match to tell this story.
Polk has a history of telling stories with deep meaning and 'placing the subjects on a pedestal to displace their humanity'. His approach to The Greensboro Six film was no different.
You want to encourage brands to tell this story because they are in a unique position in storytelling.
Polk dug into the stories of each family member, asking them about this impactful moment and how it affected their lives. They opened up to him, sharing intimate stories through conversation, tears and laughter.
These stories were translated into a film that gives a personal look at who these five men were and why their actions meant so much to their families and the surrounding community.
Travel + Leisure and Wyndham show how brands can illuminate essential stories while staying true to their values and purpose.
The Greensboro Six case set a legal precedent that paved the way for landmark victories like Brown v. Board of Education and inspired future protests. This includes the Greensboro Four's historic Woolworth sit-ins, ensuring their legacy of resistance and justice continues to shape history.
