Donzaleigh Abernathy is a talented actress and writer who has received numerous accolades for her work. She won the Tanne Foundation 2012 Artist Award for her script, "Birmingham Sunday," and for her work as an actress.
She starred as a series regular on Lifetime Television's "Any Day Now" for four years, appearing in over 60 episodes. Her performance in the Warner Bros. film "Gods And Generals" received recognition from Film Critic Roger Ebert.
Abernathy also starred in several HBO films, including the Emmy and Golden Globe winning "Don King-Only in America" opposite Ving Rhames, and "Miss Evers Boys" alongside Alfre Woodard. She appeared in NBC's "The Tempest" with Golden Globe Award winner Peter Fonda, and in New Line Cinema's comedy "Grilled" and Lions Gate's comedy "Leprechan 6 - Back 2 'Da Hood."
Additionally, she starred in the Directors Guild of America Award Winning "Murder In Mississippi." Her recurring roles include TV series such as "EZ Streets," "Commander-In-Chief," "Lincoln Heights," "Dangerous Minds," and "Amazing Grace."
Abernathy has also written several screenplays, including "Partners to History" for Emory University's Brave New Works Project. She wrote and starred in the musical "Lushlife - The Music of Billy Strayhorn" for the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus and National Black Arts Festival at Atlanta's Symphony Hall.
For the Harper's Ferry National Park Service's Centennial Celebration of the Niagara Movement, she wrote and starred in "The Women of Niagara." She wrote and performed "John Brown" for the University of Utah at Park City.
Along with her husband, actor/producer Dar Dixon Bijarchi, she created, produced, and directed the project "St. Francis."
As the youngest daughter of Reverend Doctor Ralph David Abernathy, who led the American Civil Rights Movement with Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., Donzaleigh witnessed the integral decision-making process shaping American laws and society.
She authored the history book "Partners To History, Martin Luther King, Ralph David Abernathy and the Civil Rights Movement," published by Random House/Crown, which was nominated as one of the "Best Books of 2004" for Young Adults by the American Library Association.
Ms. Abernathy is a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the New Visions Foundation, which created New Roads Schools and several other schools in the Los Angeles area. She has also spoken at various events, including the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Women Judges, Harvard Law School, Pepperdine University, and Morgan State University.
