"It wasn't so long ago that Bertice Berry cried herself to sleep in a Wilmington apartment whose walls were made of cinderblock. The sixth of seven children in a poor black family headed by an alcoholic mother, Bertice couldn't have known what the future would hold for her. She withstood taunts about her looks and weight, suffered the anxieties brought on by her mother's debilitating disease, and, of course, endured encounters with racism. Although she'd been told she wasn't college material, Bertice fought the obstacles and earned a Ph.D. She became an instructor of sociology at Kent State before discovering her talent as a stand-up comic." "Today, Dr. Bertice Berry speaks to thousands every year as a popular lecturer, is a singer of growing reputation, and is a successful standup comedienne whose act can be seen in comedy clubs, on television, and on the stage." "In this inspirational memoir and handbook for life's bumpy road, Bertice offers her unique take on relationships, education, motherhood, racism, spirituality, beauty, fitness, and many other important topics, and she offers them with humor and insight. The result is a prescription for personal empowerment - find your purpose and live it."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved