First published 2016
Taraji P. Henson opens her life story with unflinching honesty about growing up in Washington DC. She writes about her father, a Vietnam veteran who faced life's hardships with resilience, and her mother, who endured violence both at home and in their neighborhood. Henson chronicles her years as a single mother, viewing what others considered a burden as her greatest blessing. She details her training at Howard University and the particular obstacles she encountered as a Black actress in Hollywood. The memoir follows her rise from struggling performer to Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner, starring in projects like Hidden Figures and Empire. Throughout, Henson maintains the same authentic voice that made characters like Cookie Lyon so compelling. She balances humor with serious reflection, showing readers the person behind the red carpet appearances. This is the story of someone who never lost sight of her roots while pursuing her dreams in an industry that didn't always welcome her.
Genres: african-american, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity
Setting: Washington DC
Period: 21st-century
256 pages · Hardcover · 37 Ink
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence