The illustrious creator and lead of the BET+ series "Diarra From Detroit," Diarra Kilpatrick, has been crafting stories since her tender age of five. Her journey has encompassed performing in a youth correctional facility and starring in the renowned show "Perry Mason." Kilpatrick is a veritable multitalented artist, not only the creator and co-writer of the BET+ noir dramedy "Diarra From Detroit," but also its leading lady. Drawing inspiration from real-life experiences, she weaves a timeless mystery tale that delves into the depths of grief.
"For a long time, I've wanted to narrate a story about a Black female private investigator," Kilpatrick reminisces. "At a party, I struck up a conversation with my friend's mother, who revealed that she had once worked as a P.I. in Chicago. It struck me as odd, considering this woman embodied the essence of a motherly figure in the most admirable way, yet she possessed the ability to uncover truths, even surpassing a man in a fedora."
Her penchant for mysteries wasn't a novelty. Kilpatrick garnered widespread recognition after launching the 2017 ABC web series "American Koko," a satirical take on the detective world that earned her an Emmy for her outstanding performance in a shortform series. However, her love for theater sprouted much earlier, nurtured in the heart of Detroit. "At five, I was already a multitalented artist," she quips, "operating my Fisher-Price toy to compose music in my bedroom and staging my own one-woman shows." Together with her friends, she formed a theater troupe and, eager for an audience, they embarked on a performance at a youth correctional facility. "My father worked for Wayne County, so we had the connections," she recalls. "Faced with incarcerated youth, we aimed to inspire them through song, yet they merely gazed at us with skepticism. Nonetheless, I always found a way to perform."
After graduating from NYU Tisch and dabbling in theatrical and small-screen roles, Kilpatrick yearned for more. She penned "American Koko," fueled by the mantra, "You have to write something, and it doesn't have to be perfect." She confesses, "I'm a perfectionist, prone to stalling due to the pursuit of excellence. To overcome this, I watched shows I deemed flawed, telling myself, 'If you have the heart to create, just do it. Even if it's not perfect, at least you're doing something.'"
"American Koko" catapulted her into a role in "Perry Mason," further consolidating her presence in the mystery genre, ultimately leading to the birth of "Diarra From Detroit." The series follows a schoolteacher grieving the end of her marriage, determined to unravel the mystery behind her mysterious Tinder date. This journey leads her into the murky underworld of Detroit. "She's navigating heartbreak and grief," Kilpatrick shares, "a sentiment I experienced when grieving my mother's demise. While I didn't directly recount my story, I poured those feelings of despair and disillusionment into the narrative, making emotional authenticity our guiding light."
The greatest challenge in bringing her series to fruition, she reveals, was her gender. "As a woman claiming her space, I encountered individuals unaccustomed to such boldness, desiring me to apologize for shining brightly." Nonetheless, her unwavering belief in the project propelled her forward: "I'm an idealist who believes art has the power to transform the world, altering perspectives on cultures, communities, and individuals. Many may perceive me merely as an actor, not a world-changer or a healer. But the truth is, no one has cured cancer yet. While people grapple with challenges, art and laughter offer just as much solace as any other medicine. I take my craft seriously."
