The Road is Good

The actress Uzo Aduba came of age grappling with a master juggling act:as one of few Black families in their white Massachusetts suburb, she and hersiblings were the unexpected presence in whatever school room or sports teamthey joined. But Aduba was also rooted by a fierce and nonnegotiable sense ofbelonging and extraordinary worth that stemmed from her mother's powerfulvision for her children, and their connection to generations of family inNigeria. The alchemy of being out of place yet driven by fearless convictionpowered Aduba to success. The Road Is Good is more than the journey of a youngwoman determined to survive young adulthood - and to create a workableidentity for herself. It is the story of an incredible mother and a testamentto matriarchal power. When Aduba's mother falls ill, the origin of her ownpower crystallizes and Aduba leaps into a caretaker role, uniquely prepared bythe history and tools her mother passed along to become steward of herancestoral legacy. Deeply mining her family history-gripping anecdotes hermother, aunts, and uncles shared in passing at family celebrations and her owndiscoveries through countless auditions in New York and her travels toNigeria-Aduba pieces together a life story imbued with guiding lessons thatare both personal and profoundly universal.

A powerful, timely memoir of Black immigrant identity, maternal love, and a unique coming-of-age story by Emmy-winning star of The Residence and Orange Is the New Black Uzo Aduba.

Actress Uzo Aduba - known for Emmy-winning roles in Orange Is the New Black, Mrs. America and the Netflix hit The Residence - grew up in one of the few Black families in a white Massachusetts suburb. But she and her siblings were also grounded by a fierce sense of belonging and worth that stemmed from their mother''s powerful vision for her children, and by their connection to generations of family in Nigeria. The alchemy of being out of place yet driven by fearless conviction powered Uzo to success - and fuels her intimate and inspiring memoir.

Deeply mining her family history and the gripping tales handed down to her by her mother, aunts and uncles, Uzo weaves together a moving story filled with guiding lessons that are both personal and profoundly universal. Framed by two powerful turning points - Uzo''s mother''s illness and her eventual death - The Road Is Good is both a story of a young woman determined to survive early adulthood and create an identity for herself, and a testament to matriarchal power and the guiding light of maternal love.