Matriarch: Oprah's Book Club: A Memoir

by Tina Knowles

my daddy couldn’t hear in one ear and couldn’t see out of one eye, there were rules that disqualified him from being a longshoreman loading ships.

But not here. Sometimes you have to leave your home to know it’s home.

I need you to make a list of all the worst times in your life. Name all your failures and everything you believe is wrong with you.”

And I need you to make a list of all the wins that you’ve had. All the great things about you.” “Elizabeth, my life hasn’t been all that.” “Just write it down

I was born poor, I wrote, surprising me. I never had money to do stuff. The nuns abused me. My mom never stuck up for me. I was never consistent in school, an A-student

It would have meant so much to my childhood self to know that I owned my home, and I wasn’t under financial pressure. “It’s enough of this feeling sorry for yourself,” I said, looking at that second list. “I am so blessed.” I