Nina Mae McKinney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nina Mae McKinney
McKinney in 1930
Born	Nannie Mayme McKinney (1912-06-12)June 12, 1912 Lancaster, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	May 3, 1967(1967-05-03) (aged 54) New York City, U.S.
Other names	Nina McKinney, The Black Garbo
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1927–1954
Spouse(s)	James "Jimmy" Monroe ​ ​ (m. 1931; div. 1938)​

Nina Mae McKinney (born June 12, 1912 – died May 3, 1967) was a talented American actress. She became famous in the 1930s and later, working in plays, movies, and television. Nina Mae started her career on Broadway and in Hollywood. In Europe, people called her "The Black Greta Garbo" because she was so beautiful. She was one of the first African-American film stars in the United States. She was also one of the first African-Americans to appear on British television.

Biography

Nina Mae McKinney's Early Life

Nina Mae McKinney was born on June 12, 1912, in Lancaster, South Carolina. Her parents were Georgia Crawford and Hal Napoleon McKinney. When Nina Mae was very young, her mother worked as a housekeeper for Colonel Leroy Springs.

Around 1920, her mother moved to Savannah, Georgia, for work. Nina Mae stayed with her grandmother, Mary A. McKinney, in the Gills Creek neighborhood. Her father, Hal, worked as a delivery man. Later, her mother moved to New York and Nina Mae followed. She was sent back to South Carolina to live with her uncle's family when her father went to prison.

In 1923, Nina Mae went to live with the Springs family. She helped by delivering and collecting packages from the post office. To make these trips fun, she would do cool stunts on her bicycle. She also started acting in small school plays at the Lancaster Training School.

Around 1925, when she was 13, Nina Mae moved to Manhattan to live with her mother and stepfather. She went to public school there. By the summer of 1927, she decided to focus on her acting career instead of school.

Nina Mae McKinney's Marriage

In November 1931, Nina Mae McKinney married jazz musician James "Jimmy" Monroe. They later divorced in 1938.

Career

Starting Her Career (1927–1929)

In January 1928, Nina Mae McKinney joined a show called Blackbirds Revue. She started as a chorus girl, dancing and singing in the background. The show became very popular and was renamed Blackbirds of 1928. It ran for many performances and starred famous performers like Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

In October 1928, director King Vidor came to New York. He was looking for actors for his new movie, "Hallelujah!". This movie was special because it had an all-Black cast. Nina Mae caught King Vidor's eye. He said she was "beautiful and talented and glowing with personality." She first got a small role in the film.

On May 20, 1929, Nina Mae McKinney signed a five-year contract with MGM. This made her the first African-American performer to have such a contract with a major Hollywood studio.

Nina Mae appeared at the Embassy Theatre for the premiere of Hallelujah!. The movie was a huge success! Nina Mae was the first African-American actress to have a main role in a big Hollywood film with an African-American cast. King Vidor was nominated for an Oscar for directing. Nina Mae was highly praised for her acting. Vidor said she was "full of life, full of expression, and just a joy to work with."

After this, Nina Mae moved to California. She worked on other films like The Bugle Sounds. It was hard for African-American actors to find many roles in Hollywood. Studios were not ready to make Nina Mae a big star like white actresses. Rules at the time also made it impossible to show mixed-race relationships in films.

Working in Europe (1930–1938)

By early 1930, Nina Mae McKinney wanted more opportunities than MGM offered. She started touring the Midwest, performing in cities like Chicago and Detroit.

In January 1934, Nina Mae went on a successful tour of Europe. She performed in places like Nice, Prague, and Budapest. When she arrived in Athens, Greece, she was called "the Black Garbo." This nickname stuck with her.

In July 1934, Nina Mae performed at London's Alhambra Theatre. She also appeared in her first British film, Kentucky Minstrels.

Later that summer, Nina Mae began filming Sanders of the River near London. She starred alongside Paul Robeson. They were told the film would show African culture in a positive way. However, after filming, the movie was changed without their knowledge. Their roles were made much smaller, and the message of the film was altered.

Returning to America (1938–1960)

Nina Mae McKinney returned to Hollywood in July 1944. She appeared in films like Dark Waters and Together Again. She often played smaller roles, such as a servant or a nightclub attendant.

Death and Legacy

After 1960, Nina Mae McKinney lived in New York City. She passed away on May 3, 1967, at the age of 54, from a heart attack. Her funeral was held at the Little Church Around the Corner.

In 1978, Nina Mae received a special award from the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. This award honored her amazing career.

In 1992, the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center showed a clip of Nina Mae singing in her 1932 film Pie, Pie Blackbird. This was part of a collection celebrating "Jazz Divas in Film."

Film historian Donald Bogle wrote about Nina Mae McKinney in his book. He said she inspired many other actresses and shared her acting skills with them. He believed her biggest impact was on those she influenced.

In 2019, The New York Times featured Nina Mae McKinney in their "Overlooked" series. This series aims to highlight important historical figures, especially minorities and women, who were not fully recognized at the time of their death.

Broadway Credits

Filmography

Nina Mae McKinney in The Devil's Daughter (1939)

See also

In Spanish: Nina Mae McKinney para niños