Today we’d like to introduce you to Dionne M. Robinson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
During the month of December eleven years ago, I graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with my Bachelor of Science in elementary and special education. Thinking back, I would have never imagined that I would be living in California. And definitely not entering my last semester at California Institute of the Arts as a Master of Fine Arts in acting student. I was the one that said she would never go back to school. I was the one that said she would retire from teaching in the public school system. I was also the one that would daydream about being an actress as a young girl whenever I would see The Wiz, Waiting to Exhale, and What’s Love Got To Do With It on television. But for some reason, I never told anyone about it. I guess because I thought it was not possible. Being a little black girl from Mississippi, I was always under the impression that things like “making it big in Hollywood” just did not happen to people like me. It was nice to dream about it though. Especially after seeing iconic, beautiful black women like Diana Ross, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and so many others on television. They were so powerful. I will never forget the first time I saw Angela Bassett during the closet scene in Waiting to Exhale. Even as a young girl not fully understanding what these grown adult women were truly going through with those no-good men, I wanted it to be me. I was floored when I first saw Diana Ross in The Wiz and Mahoghany. I remember thinking to myself, “Who is this magical woman?”. And instantly wanting to be like her too. I would even watch her interviews on Oprah or the Jay Leno Show and just be so mesmerized with her style, her grace, and even her way of speaking. She displayed such a pure and charming feminine energy for me. She was, and still is, one of my favorite role models.
By the way, I was watching all these movies and interviews with my mother and grandmother. Thinking back, I think they too were living through these supreme women. Again, being a black woman living in the deep South, you are conditioned to not really expect much of yourself. I was doing great by just finishing college. But I knew after student teaching my graduating semester that it was not enough for me. I knew while smiling and walking across that graduation stage wearing six-inch heels that I was not going to last. I knew when I began my first school year as an elementary special education teacher in Atlanta, Georgia that I was not in it for the long haul.
I ended up teaching in the Atlanta area for three years at two different schools. I loved my students, but something was just missing. I did not know what it was until I got in front of the camera. I began a modeling career in Atlanta while teaching. Sometimes, I felt like I was living a double life. I would go from singing the alphabet song for circle time in the morning to sitting in a hair and makeup chair by the evening. The love for the camera led me to New York City. I quit my teaching job, packed up my townhome, and moved to the city with two suitcases, an Airbnb for a few weeks, and a prayer.
“When God has something for you, nothing and nobody can stop it from getting to you”. I do not know who said it first, but it is something that I have heard all my life. And I must say that I think it is true. God, the journey, my faith, my willingness to keep going no matter what, and the fact that I will not give up has carried me. I ended up in the city for five years. It was where I discovered theater and acting. I like to say that it introduced me to me.
After a few years of training and doing plays here and there, I was led to a wonderful graduate program at CalArts. Like I said earlier, I would have never thought I would be back in school. There were many times that I questioned my purpose. But as I am nearing the end, I see the vision. I am not the same woman that first arrived here in California. I am so much more, in a good way. I am a black woman from Mississippi. I love who I am becoming. I am passionate about art, children, family, education, creation, and storytelling.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I always describe my journey like riding a roller coaster. There are many different types of people that ride roller coasters. There are those that won’t get on them at all. There are those that close their eyes while riding. Some scream and hold their hands in the air. You may see some clenching the hands of those beside them. But you always have that random person with a huge smile on their face gripping the handlebar. That’s me! Through the ups, downs, tears, blood, sweat, hardships, no money, no roof over my head, cold, and fire; I have smiled and somehow made it through!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
After attending CalArts, I have discovered that I am more than an actress. I am an artist. Over these past two and a half years, I have become a writer, teaching artist, mover, and producer. I am most proud of the one-woman show that I am writing. I am almost done! And it is fire! Again, I would have never imagined that I would be writing something. I would always find myself making up these stories and scenarios in my head. It never occurred to me to just write them down in story form. So here I am. It is the most vulnerable thing I have done in my life so far.
And I don’t think of myself as “set apart”. I think we are all born with desires and passions. Going back to the roller coaster example. It depends on which type of rider you are! I am just out here following my heart and being me!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson that I have learned along my journey comes from my late grandmother, Lucille Malone. I remember whenever I would see her or talk to her on the phone, she would always say “Take care of yourself” before saying goodbye. It was not until I matured a little that I fully understood what she meant. It was more than wearing a jacket when it’s cold out or eating three meals a day. To me, it means pouring into yourself daily. If my cup is not full, I can’t be of any good to anyone else. One of my favorite things to do is love on myself. Whether that means drinking green juice, eating the proper foods, physical activity, facials, naps, meditation, reading for fun, or handing with family and friends. And mostly importantly, spending time with God. I feel most liberated and in control when I take care of me!
Contact Info:
- Website: dionnemrobinson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dionnem.robinson/
Image Credits
Zachariah Schmitt (Ig – @zachariah_shoots) Parker Harris – (Ig – @thephstudios)
