Kerry Washington Goes Deep: A Memoir That Unfolds Like a Script
Introduction
In her memoir, “Thicker Than Water,” Kerry Washington, the famously private star of “Scandal,” reveals a family secret that made her question whether she was playing the lead role in her own life. Published on Sept. 26, 2023, the memoir delves into Washington’s journey as a Black girl from the Bronx making her way in white Hollywood while feeling as if she didn’t belong in her own family.
Guarding her Personal Life
For years, Washington has guarded her personal life with the same tenacity she’s breathed into characters like Olivia Pope on “Scandal” and Mia Warren in “Little Fires Everywhere.” She never posted pictures of her three children and even kept her 2013 wedding to Nnamdi Asomugha a secret. However, with the release of her memoir, Washington opens the door to her inner sanctum, sharing her most intimate thoughts and experiences.
The Discovery
In early 2018, after the final scenes of “Scandal” were filmed, Washington agreed to appear on Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s PBS series “Finding Your Roots,” in hopes of learning about her ancestry. However, during the DNA testing process, Washington’s parents revealed a secret they had kept from her for over four decades. They had used a sperm donor to conceive her. This revelation left Washington with a mixture of excitement and liberation, but also guilt and resentment.
A Birthed into a Lie
Washington described feeling like a supporting character in her parents’ story, as if she had been wandering through a library her whole life, looking for a book about herself. The news of her biological origins provided an explanation for her feeling of not quite belonging, but also brought a sense of guilt for the pain her parents were experiencing.
The Writing Process
As Washington processed this new information, writing her memoir became a cathartic act. Initially, she tried to write it without including this new revelation, but it felt impossible. With the encouragement of her editor at Little, Brown Spark, she took time to think and eventually decided to write an intimate family memoir. Washington recorded memories on her phone and wrote about her parents’ fighting, her own struggles with mental health and an eating disorder, and finding solace in swimming. She wrote about the important moments that shaped her into the person she is today.
Reclaiming Herself
Through the process of writing “Thicker Than Water,” Washington reclaimed her own story. She shifted her focus away from the sperm donor and realized that it is not the most interesting thing about her life. While she still feels the absence of knowing where half of her biology comes from, she no longer feels like the wrong pieces are in the puzzle.
Conclusion
Kerry Washington’s memoir, “Thicker Than Water,” is a deeply personal exploration of identity, family, and the consequences of secrets. It is a testament to the power of writing and storytelling as vehicles for self-discovery and healing. By sharing her own journey, Washington empowers others to confront their own family secrets and recognize the importance of trust and authenticity.
<< photo by Karsten Winegeart >>
The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual situation.
