Laughing in the Dark

August 29, 1994
In this arresting memoir, Gaines describes her metamorphosis from a drug addicted ex-con into an award-winning reporter for the Washington Post. The daughter of a black marine, she spent her 1950s childhood on a series of military bases where, she reports, her self-esteem was severely damaged by racism. Gaines observes that her feelings of worthlessness-heightened by her father's inability to show her affection-led her into relationships with abusive men. A mother at 19, Gaines used hard drugs with her first husband; by 21, she was serving time for possession. Gaines candidly details two more unsuccessful marriages and relationships with men who beat and raped her. With the help of psychotherapy, she learned to stop her self-destructive behavior and work towards personal and professional fulfillment. Author tour.