Dianne Kirksey

Dianne Kirksey (also known as Dianne Kirksey-Floyd) (1950 – 1 September 2020)^[1] was an African-American filmmaker, writer, producer, and actress in New York City. Her productions have been nominated for a combined 16 Audelco Awards. Kirksey was an activist and educator, and she received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Alabama State Militia in 1985 for her leadership and service to the state.

Early life

Dianne Kirksey was born in Eutaw, Alabama, United States, to Wiley Kirksey, a former school superintendent in Greene County, Alabama and Gladys Kirksey, an educator.^[2] Kirksey was active in several local plays and productions as a child. As a student leader during the Civil Rights Movement, she led marches and protests through Greene County in support of the Voters' Rights Act. She graduated Carver High School in 1967.

Education

Kirksey matriculated at the University of Alabama in the fall of 1967. As a freshman, she was the first Black student named "Bama Belle" and first Black member of the homecoming court.^[3] She was a founding member of the UA African American Association (renamed the Black Student Union), the first Black woman to be an officer of the Associated Women's Students organization, and led the Institutional Racism Workshop at the UA International Women's Conference.^[4][5] She graduated with a double major in Theater and English in 1973.

Since her graduation, she has been honored by the university for contributions to racial and gender equality, listed as one of the most important black alumni by AL.com.^[6] In 2018, she was one of twenty Female Trailblazers celebrated at the UA 1893 Jubilee Dinner celebrating 125 years of women admitted to the University.^[7]

Career

Kirksey has been active in education, film, television and theater as a classroom teacher, director, and actress since 1973. She studied at the New York University Intensive Filmmaking Program under Thierry Pathe.^[8] Recently, she has produced a short film, Sweet Dreams, Momma and a short documentary, Bama's Black Babies Are Dying, and was developing a series of TV and film projects.^[9]

Her notable acting roles include portraying Cheryl in Ron Milner's Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms opposite Chadwick Boseman, produced by Woodie King, Jr.^[10] Kirksey has also earned roles in film and television, including Doctors, One Life to Live, Rich Kids, directed by Robert M. Young and The Marva Collins Story, starring Morgan Freeman and Cicely Tyson.

Kirksey has also served two terms on New York City's Community Board 8 on the Education Committee.

Death

Kirksey died in New York on September 1, 2020.^[11]

Education

She taught third and fifth grades at PS 334 from 2006 - 2019.

Film and television

Production	Role	Year
Sweet Dreams, Momma‡	Producer, Director, Writer	2017
Bama's Black Babies Are Dying†	Producer, Director	2017
Rain Without Thunder	Mother	1992
Soiree de Deux	Director, Writer	1987
Doctors	Bobby Duvall	1981-1982
The Marva Collins Story	Cynthia Rawls	1981
Rich Kids	Ralph's Secretary	1979
Watch Your Mouth	Doris	1978

† Pre-production ‡ Post-production

Theatre

Actress

Play	Theater	Year
Power Play^[12]	Billie Holiday Theater	2005
Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms^[13]	New Federal Theater	2002
The World of Ben Caldwell^[14]	New Federal Theater	1982
Games	New Federal Theater	1982
The Incarnation of Reverend Goode Blacque Dress^[15]	New Federal Theater	1982
So Nice They Named It Twice^[16]	New York Shakespeare Festival	1977
What the Winesellers Buy	New York Shakespeare Festival	1975

Director

Play	Theater	Year
Why Old Ladies Cry at Weddings	Frank Silvera Writers Workshop	1994
Island Memories^[17]	Ubu Repertory Theater	1991
In a Dry and Thirsty Land	Riverside Church Theater	1986
The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell	New Federal Theater	1983

Awards

• Trailblazer, University of Alabama 1893 Jubilee Dinner, 2018
• Finalist, New York Television Festival Pitch Competition, 2017
• Honoree, Blackboard Awards, 2011
• Opening Doors, University of Alabama, 2003
• Fellow, Korea Institute, 2002
• Fellow, China Institute, 2001
• Invitee, Cannes Film Festival, 1987
• Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Alabama State Militia, 1985

References

1. "First Black Bama Belle leaves behind an impactful legacy". 14 September 2020.
2. "Miss Kirksey to Marry Michael Floyd in May". The New York Times. 19 April 1987. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
3. Ashley Boyd. "Homecoming queen joins long UA tradition". Tuscaloosanews.com. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
4. "Pioneers - Through the Doors: Courage. Change. Progress". Throughthedoors.ua.edu. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
5. April Wortham. "A song in her heart". Tuscaloosanews.com. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
6. "List: Who are the University of Alabama's most prominent black graduates?". Blog.al.com. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
7. "1893 Jubilee Dinner to Celebrate Female Trailblazers at UA – University of Alabama News | The University of Alabama". 8 August 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
8. "Wildfilm Productions - News/Information". Wildfilmproductions.com. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
9. "Dianne Kirksey". IMDb. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
10. Gates, Anita (22 April 2002). "THEATER REVIEW; Helping The Family, But Headed For Trouble". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
11. Obituary: Dianne Kirksey - Floyd
12. "CARIBBEAN WEEK SET TO KICK OFF". Nydailynews.com. 29 May 2005. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
13. "LOOSE 'URBAN' TALE FAILS TO BLOSSOM". Nypost.com. 19 April 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
14. "Garrett Morris to Star In 5 Ben Caldwell Plays". The New York Times. April 1982. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
15. "The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
16. "So Nice, They Named it Twice Original Off-Broadway Cast - 1976 Off-Broadway". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
17. "Ina Césaire, entretien avec Mariette Monpierre - Île en île". Ile-en-ile.org. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2018.