Laughing In The Dark From Colored Girl To Woman Of ColorA Journey From Prison To Power

Posted In: For Colored Girls

Roosevelt Housman says...

Laughing in the Dark was a phenomenal, well-written book.Patrice went through many trials and tribulations in her life and managed to make it despite her many struggles.This book is not only exciting, but itprovides very good advice.She talks about her experiences with men,drugs, pregnancy, death and many other things.By reading what she said,many women should know how to deal with life decisions without a doubt intheir mind that most of their choices are right.I think that her bestmessage to women is to stay strong; love and respect yourself before youjump into relationships, and you're more likely to come out on top--likePatrice.

Posted on December 18, 2010

Luz Diemoz says...

The reader discovers the personal world of Patrice Gaines, a staff reporter with the Washington Post and a recipient of the National Association of Black Journalists Award.The impetus for this memoir wasGaines' view of her baby daughter from a thin jail cell window. The storyunravels as Gaines seeks to be the independent woman that her daughter canlook up to with pride.

Gaines provides us with the details of herstruggle, commencing with her life as a five-year-old on a military base inQuantino, Virginia in 1954, when the Supreme Court declared segregatedschools unconstitutional.

The adversities she faced included:beingraped twice, shoplifting, abusing drugs, getting divorced, and going toprison.She delineates these experiences with stark honesty and acompassionate understanding of everyone.Her sensitivity is stronglyhighlighted by her complete and unwavering devotion to gay friends in theirpersonal battles against AIDS.

As the story unwinds, the reader ispoignantly aware of Gaines' personal and professional growth.She comes tomeet her daughter's needs, as they each mature into adulthood, one ajournalist and one a college student.

This non-fictional account of onejournalist's life is well written and totally captivating."Laughingin the Dark" cannot be kept waiting; it must be read immediately fromstart to finish.

Posted on December 19, 2010

Shavonne Padua says...

I recently read the book Laughing in the Dark, by Patrice Gaines.In my opinion this is a wonderful example of the hardships and traumas that women face throughout their lives. I myself gained a lot of knowledge and insightas to why women sometimes react the way they do or make certain decisions.The book flows along nicely and keeps you waiting to find out what turn itwill take next. It takes you through experiences with men, drugs, family,pregnancy, pain and death. It is a great book and I would strongly suggestreading it.

Posted on December 19, 2010

Mabelle Raley says...

"Laughing in the Dark" is the Black female side of Nathan McCall's "Makes Me Wanna Holler."Both works share the stories of young African people growing up with harsh realities and obstalces. Both books are about "how I overcame," and what it takes to endure the hardships of life.

Ms. Gaines's book though is rare, for we don't have nearly enough coming-of-age books by African women. The focus is mainly on the plight of African men.

Though "Laughing in the Dark" is somewhat depressing, it serves to remind us of those Black women who are not "waiting to exhale" and can'tget their groove on because they don't have the privileges to do so. They must find strength in themselves where there might not be very much strength.

I hope more books like Gaines will be written. I'm sure there are many more sistahs out there with similiar stories to tell.

Posted on December 20, 2010

Nolan Delmonte says...

Patrice Gaines' autobiography Laughing in the Dark is an unbelievably amazing story.I would recommend this book to anyone that has doubts in their life or to a person who wants to feel the pain and happiness thatPatrice has been through.Patrice has walked in many shoes, anywhere fromthe most uncomfortable heels to the best pair of sneakers.She explainsthis to you with remarkably strong emotions.As a young female facing manyof the same struggles, I feel that this autobiography has taught me a lotabout life and how to deal with the everyday pressures of sex, drugs, andcrime.She begins her book as a young, black female dealing with racismand ends as a strong, beautiful woman.To express in such great detail somuch of her life truly means something.Whether it's that she is just agreat writer that wanted to stop living what some may call a lie, or thatshe felt her story could help many that face the same problems, she did aterrific job.She made a tremendous difference in my life.

Posted on December 20, 2010

Neoma Thi says...

Patrice Gaines is a veteran Washington Post reporter and nationally renowned speaker who grew up in insulated middle-class military brat society, became a teenage mother and drug abuser, served time in jail, and found her inner power to change her life.Gaines blames her disastrous life choices on her dependency and poor choice in men.She writes that it was only when she started loving herself, and stopped looking for outside affirmation of her self-worth, was she finally able to come into her own.



As a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show, Patrice Gaines inspired Oprah to make a spontaneous admission that she, too, had smoked crack cocaine in her youth, at the behest of a man.Tearful, Oprah admitted that "It's my life's great big secret. It was such a secret because...the tabloids would exploit it...But I was involved with a man in my 20s who introduced me to the same drug that you've been talking about and, like Patrice, I always felt that the drug itself is not the problem but that I was addicted to the man.I can't think of anything I wouldn't have done for that man."



Gaines has made great strides growing from a convicted felon to an accomplished, award-winning journalist, and her story will inspire readers of all shades and stripes.

Posted on December 20, 2010

Venetta Kataoka says...

I think Patrice Gaines's Laughing in the Dark captures the eyes and ears of most women in America.With her strong voice and powerful heart she did what most women wouldn't dare: She talked about reality and what reallygoes on behind closed doors when you constantly let men control your life,including your mind and your money. She wants people to know that you cantake back control.She makes excellent points about drugs and issues ofrace, things that been around her all her life. It doesn't matter whatcolor or age you are, sometime in your life you may have experienced thethings Patrice mentions in her book. Patrice writes about the importance offamily and friendship; she lets you know that without family and friendsyou can't change.She should be congratulated for facing and overcomingthe problems she had in her life. She didn't let her troubles overpowerher; she overpowered them.I would like to say this to Patrice: Keep yourvoice strong and your heart powerful and there will always be someonelistening and understanding what you're trying to say.

Posted on December 21, 2010

Katlyn Motley says...

"Laughing in the Dark" was an excellent book.I really enjoyed reading it.Patrice had a tough life.She has been through a lot, but in the end she has accomplished so much.In my eyes Patrice Gaines is aremarkable women. I find books about the author's life are the mostinteresting types of books.They are so honest and tell you so much aboutlife.Everybody faces different problems and situations that the nextperson.I myself learn more from the mistakes and lifestyles others havethan what anyone could teach me.Biographies and autobiographies tell youthe truth, how they felt, the details on what happened, their mistakes, andhow they dealt with it all. The more you know about the author themore interesting the reading is.Patrice in particular is a very strongand smart women.She has been through a lifetime of mistakes, promises,deaths, and accomplishments than a lot of others ever will be, and she isstill going.Her earlier life had helped her get ready for anything, forthe rest of her life.I believe she should be everybody's role model tosuccess.She has done a lot and is still helping others. I am verypleased with the book and I recommend it for others to read.Her life hasmade me think about my own.She has helped me know what to expect, what towatch out for, and what a wonderful life you can have if you want it enoughand try to get it.

Posted on December 23, 2010

Ashli Keirnan says...

Patrice Gaines-an amazing woman who has gone through almost everything you could think of.Laughing in the Dark is an amazing autobiography.I would recommend this book to anyone that is going through trouble in life; this book is could give them a better understanding of what they are going through because people can't see what is happening to themselves, but when they see another person going through they can understand it better.Not only do I recommend it to those with troubled lives but anyone that likes to read what is going on in the world with someone besides themselves.This book is amazing and I could read it over and over again and not get sick of it. So read it.

Posted on December 24, 2010

Jere Muddaththir says...

Patrice Gaines's book Laughing in the Dark opens the eyes of women, both young and old, across the country.Patrice takes you on a journey through her life filled with pain and tears, toward self survival and determination to better her life.Patrice helps women see inside themselves through her powerful words and wisdom.She encourages women to better themselves and to always believe in themselves.With her gripping stories and tear-filled memories of childhood to her successes in womanhood, she helps you find your true self and pushes you to be the best you can be.I enjoyed this book immensely, and it has pushed me to look deeper inside my own soul for the person I want to be.

Posted on December 26, 2010