Hollywood actress, writer, comedienne and TV host Sardia Robinson, is gearing up to support Black History Month by dedicating her two upcoming one woman shows to influential African American women who have made a significant impact in their communities and around the world. “I believe that African American women don’t always get the recognition they deserve for all that they have done and continue to do to empower and uplift our communities, so I wanted to pay tribute to them in a unique way,” she explains.
A former spokesperson for Black History Month for Community Matters, a series of public service announcements produced in conjunction with Union Bank and PBS Southern California, Sardia remains committed to empowering the African American community, and pays homage to celebrities and activists, past and present who have made a difference, including actress Lena Horne who refused to perform for segregated audiences, Oprah Winfrey, who founded the South African boarding school, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Chicago activist Ameena Matthews, and Whoopi Golberg, an advocate for children, human rights, and education.
“These women have impacted the lives of millions. Without their bravery, resilience and determination, women of color, especially African American women, would not be where they are today,” states Sardia. One woman who had a strong influence in Sardia’s life was her grandmother. “Although we lived in a crime-ridden neighborhood and were deeply impacted by the gun violence and killings around us, my grandmother taught me to be strong, have faith in God and believe in myself. Her wisdom and courage gave me the strength to pursue my education and live my dreams of being a successful Hollywood actress. Without her support and guidance, I would not have had the courage to come to the United States and overcome all of the tragedies I faced,” explains Sardia.
The creator of the acclaimed one woman show, From a Yardie to a Yankee, a captivating, true story that reveals her journey of how she escaped poverty, death and destruction in Jamaica and began a new life as an actress in America, Sardia’s performance has garnered praise from revered Hollywood veterans, including Motown’s First A&R Man,Mickey Stevenson, and Hollywood producer/director Gregory Marquette. View the promo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g3iILIa90w
An accomplished actress whose acting credits include The Young & The Restless and ADHDTv with Lew Marklin, Sardia is making her mark in Hollywood, and is determined to support other women and young girls in the Los Angeles area and beyond. She is very passionate about empowering women and youth, and won The Woman of the Year Award from the Mahogany Scholarship Heritage Foundation for her commitment to working with the youth in Chicago. A revered performer, Sardia also continues to motivate and support up and coming talent in Hollywood. ‘As a writer and actress, I feel that it is my responsibility to support other women of color in their efforts in breaking into the industry.
Although many breakthroughs have recently occurred for African Americans in the industry, there is still progress to be made.
As a Jamaican actress, I have had to overcome not only racial discrimination, but I was not chosen for roles because I had an accent. I want to open more doors so that women like me can have more opportunities than I did when I was starting out.
One of the reasons I share my story in my one woman show, From a Yardie to a Yankee, is to inspire women in general, as well as aspiring actresses and to let them know that they are not alone in their struggles, but if they continue to follow their dreams and create a plan for themselves, a thriving career in Hollywood is within their reach,” states Robinson.
For more information about Sardia Robinson and her one woman show,From a Yardie to a Yankee, visit www.Sar and be sure to check out her show this Saturday at 8 pm at the Michael Woolson Theatre in Los Angeles!
