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The "Mega Diva" and legendary star of Black-ish looks back on her memorable journey to fame and the unforgettable life lessons she learned along the way.Jenifer Lewis keeps it real in this provocative and touching memoir by a mid-western girl with a dream whose journey from poverty to Hollywood will move, shock, and inspire readers.Told in the audacious voice her fans adore, Jenifer describes a road to fame made treacherous by dysfunction and undiagnosed mental illness, including a sex addiction. Yet, supported by loving friends and strengthened by "inner soldiers," Jenifer never stopped entertaining and creating.We watch as Jenifer develops icon status stemming from a series of legendary screen roles as the sassy, yet loveable, mama or auntie. And we watch as her emotional disturbances, culminating in a breakdown while filming The Temptations movie, launch her on a continuing search for answers, love, and healing.Written with no-holds-barred honesty and illustrated with sixteen-pages of color photos, this gripping memoir is filled with insights gained through a unique life that offers a universal message: "Love yourself so that love will not be a stranger when it comes."From her first taste of applause at five years old to landing on Broadway within eleven days of graduation and ultimately achieving success in movies, television and global concert halls, Jenifer reveals her outrageous life story with lots of humor, a few regrets and most importantly, unbridled joy. Candid, warm and wonderfully inspiring, The Mother of Black Hollywood intimately reveals the heart of a woman who lives life to the fullest.
About the Author
Jenifer Lewis is one of Hollywood's most familiar faces, with more than 300 appearances in film and television. Dubbed a "national treasure" by TVGuide.com, Jenifer currently stars on the Emmy-nominated hit show "Black-ish," where her hilarious portrayal of Ruby Johnson earned Jenifer a nomination for the 2018 Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a TV comedy series. Jenifer's bestselling memoir, The Mother of Black Hollywood, was named "2018 Book of the Year" at the National Book Club Conference and the audio version won the Earphones Award from AudioFile Magazine. As both an actress and an activist, Jenifer is a social media sensation. Her viral hits include For My Book, Get Your Ass Out and Vote!; Flint Ain't Fixed; and In These Streets with Brandy and Roz Ryan. Jenifer delivered legendary performances as Tina Turner's mother in "What's Love Got to Do With It" and in "The Preacher's Wife" as the mother of Whitney Houston's character. Jenifer starred opposite Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood's "Hereafter" and for director Tyler Perry, Jenifer created unforgettable characters in "Madea's Family Reunion" and "Meet the Browns." In the movie "Castaway," Jenifer portrayed Tom Hanks' boss.In animated films, Jenifer's uniquely recognizable voice is adored by Disney fans worldwide in roles such as Flo in "Cars," "Cars 2" and "Cars 3," and as Mama Odie in "The Princess and the Frog." In her newest Disney role, Jenifer is the voice of Professor Granville in the "Big Hero 6" television series. Jenifer's TV roles have ranged from regular appearances as Aunt Helen on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" to guest star roles on "Friends," "Murphy Brown," and "Girlfriends." For six seasons, Jenifer portrayed Lana Hawkins on Lifetime's hit series "Strong Medicine."Jenifer has had a wide-ranging and varied career in music and theater. She has performed in four Broadway shows, including "Hairspray," in the role of Motormouth Mabel. At Carnegie Hall she received an electrifying standing ovation singing with the New York Pops orchestra. All told, Jenifer has presented more than 200 concerts, performing in 48 states and five continents.Jenifer's accomplishments as an entertainer and community activist have been recognized by the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award in Theatre, the American Black Film Festival Career Achievement Award, the Human Rights Campaign Ally Award, and an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, Webster University in St. Louis. Fans can follow Jenifer on Instagram (@jeniferlewisforreal) , Twitter (@JeniferLewis) and Facebook (Jenifer Lewis For Real.)
