Gaines reveals her turbulent path as she desires to find her place as a respected female. Gaines’s strength to overcome struggles and defeats allowed her to find her voice. Ever since Gaines was a young girl she was sexually, physically and emotionally abused which caused her to feel a lack of stability and security. Gaines suffered through abusive relationships where she was often beaten and rapped which left her feeling vulnerable and unvalued. The loss of her father, grandparents and close friends made Gaines question her life and she “prayed for strength and understanding; for the will to live…” (273). Gaines found the courage to overcome depression and to find a way to honor those who have passed. She found the strength to bring awareness to AIDS and homosexuality, which were topics rarely discussed in public. She used her past as a way to find hope for the future and to become a better version of herself. Gaines realized the demons she was fighting inside of herself was letting others take her power and freedom. She embraced her troubled path of drugs, imprisonment, death and abandonment to help others in their journey but also to realize…show more content… Gaines uncovered that her father wasn't her birth father which made her question her identity. Gaines cannot distinguish the difference between love and abuse which makes her path to womanhood difficult. However, Gaines reveals her passion for writing which she uses to discover her happiness. Gaines does not allow her status as a single mother to hinder her goals and dreams. Gaines discovered her self-confidence, self-esteem and worth in writing by ultimately winning “Best Commentary” from the National Association of Black Journalists. Through her time in and out of prison, Gaines discovers her truth and came to the realization to take back the power she gave up to men, her parents and
