In reference to sexual abuse, Tyler Perry stated, “It was rape, I didn’t know what was going on or the far-reaching effects of it. I just moved through it. ‘Boys don’t cry, shut up and move on.’ Holding on to all of that, not knowing what to do with it, there was a lot of anger in my teenage years, in my 20s. If any of it had worked, my attempts to kill myself…. I wouldn’t have gotten to the other side of all the horror. I believe that to everything there is an opposite. So for all of that pain and hell I was going through as a child, there has to be beauty. I tell anyone who is in pain, ‘Just keep going. One little step is a step.'” -People
“I never felt the need to be in with the crowd. I don’t mind being on the outside.”
“But I’ve realized that it’s time for me to show my audience that you don’t have to be perfect to achieve your dreams. Because nobody relates to being perfect. I’m ok with picking my nose. I’m ok with having bad dance moves. I’m ok with having horrible lower teeth. That’s what makes me me, and for some reason it’s worked out all right.”
“I thought my skin wasn’t beautiful enough to wear shorts or open-toed shoes, but my idea of ‘beautiful enough’ came from not seeing enough representation of someone like myself, that would’ve been so powerful for me. I hope to offer all young women a sense of hope and change, that one type of look is not better than another. It’s ok to be different and seeing that is massive for a child.”
“Even the people who you think have the most confidence can be terrified inside. Learn to believe and trust in yourself. Some of the nerdiest guys who were tormented in school are now tech billionaires! “
“I grew up in a very abusive home. My mother could never show affection towards us. When I was young and I first was homeless my escape was always school. For me, from an early age, I knew that what was going to take me out of my homelessness was my education. I got a degree in sociology and with that I wanted to help people. I feel that’s my calling… that’s my purpose in life. I got hired at Covenant House and became a case manager. That’s a full-circle moment right there for me. I often have youth look at me and say, ‘you don’t know what it’s like to live her.’ I look at them in the eye and tell them I slept in these hallways. I slept in those bunk beds and I made it to college and I made something of myself and now I’m here giving back to you guys. So… I do know.”