Nahshon Dion Anderson (born April 1, 1978; previously Nahshon Ratcliff) is an American filmmaker, artist, and writer whose work explores themes of discrimination, identity, and violence against minority youth.
Nahshon Dion | |
|---|---|
 Dion in 2018 | |
| Born | April 1, 1978 Altadena, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Nahshon Ratcliff Nahshon Dion Anderson |
| Education | California State University, Los Angeles |
| Occupation(s) | Filmmaker, artist, writer |
Life
editDion was born on April 1, 1978 in Altadena, California.[1][2][3] Her father died at a young age and she was raised with her siblings by her mother.[1] They were part of a Jehovah's Witness community.[1] She is an African American Louisiana Creole.[4][2] In high school, Dion participated in the drama club and was part of a television commercial for Chuck E. Cheese.[1] In 1996, she met Tupac Shakur at her senior prom who put her in touch with a production company, Look Hear Sound & Vision Productions.[1][5] She interned with them following graduation.[1] While in school, she came out as a gay man.[1] She graduated from John Muir High School.[6] Dion attended California State University, Los Angeles for two semesters.[6]
In early July 1997, at the age of 19, Dion was working as an actor and production assistant when she was shot by a homophobic individual.[1][5] She was later diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.[1] Dion worked as an assistant to actor Stanley Bennett Clay where she helped him produce SBC Magazine focused on gay Black people.[5] She later came out as a transgender woman.[1] In 2011, Dion relocated to New York City to pursue writing a memoir and nonfiction.[1][5] She moved to the Bronx in July 2013.[4] Dion writes on discrimination, identity, and violence against minority youth.[1] She is the host of a YouTube show, "TRANSBRATIONS."[7] In 2019, she began work on a historical and educational film and documentary titled Renewed Life. It is based on her unpublished memoir of her upbringing in Los Angeles County, California and life in the Bronx.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Schwartz, Leah (2024-02-15). "A Story of Resilience: Altadena native and artist Nahshon Dion has lived a life worth telling". Pasadena Weekly. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ a b "Biography". Nahshon Dion. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ "X: Nahshondion". X. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ a b Swanson, Emily (2024-04-18). "Black transgender artist Nahshon Dion draws inspiration from her home in the Bronx – Bronx Times". www.bxtimes.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ a b c d Ford, Sarah (2017-11-01). "Formerly Homeless Writer Rises Above Personal History". The Denver VOICE. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ a b Goodstein, Steven (2015-12-14). "Local organization brings Bronx filmmaker's dream to life – Bronx Times". www.bxtimes.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ a b Binns, Tony (2023-10-12). "YouTube host Nahshon Dion continues her journey toward self-realization". rollingout.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
External links
edit
