by Jared ‘WordIzBond’ Green

Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse, Child Abuse, Suicide

Imagine being born in poverty. Imagine being born into a life of child abuse by your father to then learn that he himself is not even your own biological father and that the man molested your childhood friend. Imagine being repeatedly molested as a child and surviving each and everyone of your suicide attempts. Imagine dropping out of highschool and wandering, wondering your own self worth. Imagine going after your GED and being inspired by an Oprah show where a person on the show spoke about the act of writing and the therapeutic effects of it. Imagine, writing affirmation letters to yourself and then dedicating your life to the pen. 

Imagine blowing your $12,000 life savings away at Twenty-two years old and it bombed and then spending the next eight years re-writing that same play while homeless. Imagine now making over $150 Million in merchandise, ticket sales and videos of this same play. 

Imagine, just imagine being approved for a $5.5million budget for your first ever movie and grossing $50 million at the box office. Imagine having a series of successful movies and T.V. shows making you into Forbes highest paid entertainer in 2011. Imagine pairing up with your idol, the person whom you credited as the woman who saved your life to bring scripted television shows to her network. Imagine fast forwarding a few years later to developing your very own production studio where The Walking Dead and The Blockbuster Mega Hit Black Panther were filmed and produced. And then finally, Imagine having an official grand opening for your studio where you give your fellow Black Actors and actresses their own hollywood walk of fame star, a gala event celebrating their accomplishments as well as naming each one of the production buildings after notable Black Actors and Actresses. Imagine being at the age of 50 and reflecting on your life while standing shoulder to shoulder with successful showmen of theater, T.V., movies, music and so on and they all look like you; some of them sharing their own stories of trauma but still persevered to attain their dreams. 

Over the weekend, Tyler Perry, made history. Perry officially held a grand opening for his massive 332 acre Production studio. Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey, Cicely Tyson, Samuel L. Jackson, Beyonce and many more traveled to Atlanta to help Christen this immaculate studio and to congratulate Perry. The man once homeless with a traumatic past now being celebrated after overcoming it all. Perry showcased his 12 sound stations named after historic, notable Black actors and actresses.

The man went from homelessness to glory. Even stating that he is ignored by Hollywood, to creating his own lane and now owning his own production studio. Here’s to Tyler Perry and his great success.