Grounded Theatre Company strives for learning, and showcasing the wonderful writings, and oration of the African Diaspora. We in the Diaspora can only tell our stories, and we have pioneers in history who have done some great literary and performance works. We would like to pay homage to those who came before us in a series entitled The Lost Series. We will honor actors, writers, and others in the arts on our blog periodically. Look out for our next ancestor and/or pioneer to

Nina Mae McKinney was born in Lancaster, South Carolina on June 12, 1912. McKinney was a stage and film actress. She made her debut on Broadway as a chorus line dancer in the hit musical Blackbirds of 1928 starring Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. She landed a leading role in a movie entitled, "Hallelujah!" Her performance in that movie landed her a five year deal with MGM; making McKinney the first African American actor to land a long-term contract with a major studio. After her