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>> I USED TO THINK THAT SHE
WAS JUST EXTREME
I DIDN'T KNOW TO CALL IT
MENTAL ILLNESS
>> ROSIE PEREZ WAS
THREE YEARS OLD
WHEN HER SCHIZOPHRENIC MOTHER
PUT HER IN A CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S
HOME WHERE SHE WAS OFTEN ABUSED.
>> I HAD TO PHYSICALLY FIGHT
BACK OR ELSE, YOU KNOW, MY ***
WAS GOING TO GET KICKED.
>> THE OSCAR NOMINATED ACTRESS's
NEW BOOK EXPLAINS HOW SHE
OVERCAME ODDS?
>> I FELT LIKE I WAS ALWAYS
ACTING, ALWAYS ESCAPING INTO
DIFFERENT REALITIES.
>> HOW A FIGHTING SPIRIT AND
HUMOR
HELPED HER SURVIVE?
>> I WAS HAM AND CHEESE SERVED
ON A PLATTER.
>> I RECENTLY SPOKE TO HER IN
NEW YORK.
THE BOOK STARTS OUT WITH YOUR
EARLY YEARS, WITH YOUR TIA, YOUR
ALL THE, WHO YOU LOVED AND WHO
TOOK REALLY GOOD CARE OF YOU.
AT SOME
POINT, YOUR MOTHER, WHO
YOU DIDN'T REALIZE WAS YOUR
MOTHER, COMES AND GETS YOU FROM
TIA's HOUSE AND PUTS YOU IN A
CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S HOME AND
THAT'S WHEN YOU
FIRST STARTED
EXPERIENCING ABUSE.
THE BOOK IS FILLED WITH SO MANY
PAINFUL STORIES IT'S HARD TO
RECOUNT ALL OF THEM.
HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOU TO
GO BACK MENTALLY AND RECOUNT
PAPER?
>> THE GOOD THING IS, IS THAT I
HAVE DONE THE HARD WORK IN
REGARDS TO GOING TO GET HELP, TO
SEEKING THERAPY.
I HAD THOUGHT BECAUSE I WAS
SUCCESSFUL AND I HAD A LOT
OF
MONEY, I HAD A GREAT CAREER,
THAT I HAD RISEN ABOVE ALL OF
THE ISSUES.
AND I REALIZED PROBABLY AROUND
IN MY EARLY 30S THAT I HAD NOT.
SO, PRIOR TO WRITING THE BOOK, I
HAD DONE
EXTENSIVE SESSIONS OF
THERAPY
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT MY
PAST TO WIN.
I WANTED TO REAP AND ENJOY ALL
OF THE BENEFITS OF LIFE AND ALL
OF
MY EFFORTS TO HAVE A GREAT
LIFE.
SO, WHEN I SAT DOWN TO WRITE IT,
WAS IT DIFFICULT?
YES. THERE WERE DAYS WHERE
THERE WAS A LOT OF CRYING.
THERE WERE DAYS WHERE THERE WAS
A LOT OF LAUGHTER.
HUMAN DOES RUN THROUGHOUT THE
BOOK DESPITE THE TERRIBLE
STORIES YOU ARE
TELLING ME.
THE ABUSE IN THE EARLY YEARS WAS
REALLY STRIKING, ABUSE FROM
YOUR FAMILY, ABUSE FROM SOME OF
THE NUNS IN THE CONVENT YOU WERE
SENT TO AS A TODDLER.
YOU WERE THREE YEARS OLD.
DID IT FEEL SOMETIMES LIKE
EVERYONE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
YOU?
>> NO.
THERE WERE CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING CARE
OF ME THAT WERE HURTING ME.
BUT AS A
CHILD, I JUST --
EVERYTHING WAS VERY CLEAR TO ME.
IT WAS CONFUSING AT FIRST.
WHO IS MY MOTHER?
WHO IS MY AUNT?
WHY AM I
HERE?
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WITH THE
FUNNY SCARVES ON THEIR HEADS.
>> THE NUNS.
>> THE NUNS.
BUT ONCE I STARTED TO ASSESS THE
SITUATION AND, I WAS LIKE, OKAY.
SO THERE WEREN'T ALL -- IT
WASN'T A PLACE FOR EVERYONE THAT
WORKED THERE, ALL OF THE NUNS,
PRIESTS, COUNSELORS WERE BAD AND
ABUSIVE.
THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF THEM.
BUT THERE WERE SOME REALLY GREAT
ACTION WONDERFUL FAMILY.
SO
I DIDN'T VIEW LIFE LIKE THAT
PLUS I HAD MY AUNT IN MY LIFE
AND MY COUSINS WHO WERE
SISTERS.
I CALL
THEM MY SISTER-COUSINS
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT
THOSE THREE YEARS WITH
MY AUNT
HELPED ME
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
IS GOOD LOVE OUT THERE, AND I
SPECIAL.
>> THOSE TIMES WITH YOUR ALL THE
ARE THE REAL BRIGHT SPOTS.
>> YES.
>> THE STORY OF YOUR CHILDHOOD.
BUT THERE ARE THEN THERE ARE THE
TYPES WITH SISTER
RENATA, AND
THERE WAS ONE DAY WHERE SHE
SLAMMED YOUR HEAD
REPEATEDLY
AGAINST A LOCKER.
AND YOU CALLED HER EVIL
INCARNATE IN THE BOOK.
WAS SHE JUST THE
PROTOTYPICAL
STRICT NONE OR AS SADISTIC AS
SHE SEEMS TO BE?
>> I THINK SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT
MORE SADISTIC THAN THE STANDARD
STRICT NUNS.
SHE WENT OVERBOARD.
>> WAS THERE ONE PARTICULAR
INCIDENT BESIDES THE LOCKER
INCIDENT THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU
THAT WOULD
EXEMPLIFY WHAT IT WAS
LIKE BEING IN THAT
CONVENT?
>> WELL, ONE TIME ME AND THE
GIRL THAT I CALLED CRAZY
CINDY,
WE WERE IN TROUBLE SO WE HAD TO
CLEAN THE ENTIRE BATHROOM AT SIX
YEARS OLD.
WHEN I MEAN THE ENTIRE BATHROOM,
IT'S A BATHROOM IN A HOME FOR
CHILDREN.
SO THERE ARE ABOUT
SIX SINKS,
AND THERE IS THREE BATHROOM
STALLS AND THREE TO FOUR SHOWER
STALLS AND THEN THE ENTIRE
FLOOR. SO, WE WERE THERE FOR A
GOOD PART OF THE DAY, AND CINDY
HAD GOTTEN THE COULD HAVE SYRUP.
WE FOUND THE COULD HAVE SYRUP.
BACK THEN, IT WAS MOSTLY
ALCOHOL.
SO WE GOT TIPSY AND WE TURNED ON
THE RADIO IN THE BATHROOM THAT
WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO TURN ON
AND
I WAS
LIKE A TEMPTATIONS AND
THEN I WAS -- YOU WAS THE PIPS
AND SHE TOOK GLADYS KNIGHT.
BY THAT TIME, SISTER RENATA
COMES IN, STARTS SCREAMING AND
YELLING AT US, TELLS US TO HOLD
OUT OUR HANDS
AND WE DID AND SHE
PROCEEDED TO WHACK THEM AND TOLD
US TO TURN THEM OVER AND WHACK
THEM AGAIN TO THE POINT WHERE IT
WAS CRACKING AND BLOOD AND THE
STINGING, AND IT WAS SO HARD AND
TERRIBLE, THE PAIN, AND THEN SHE
HAD THE GALL TO SAY, NOW, GO
BACK AND FINISH CLEANING, AND I
SAID, WITH WHAT?
OUR FEET?
DA-DA-DA.
IT WAS CRACK.
SHE SMACKED ME ACROSS THE FACE
AND BACKHANDED.
IT WAS, I THINK, ABOUT THREE OR
FOUR SLAPS SO IT WAS ADDING
INSULT TO INJURY.
THEN WE HAD TO GO AND CLEAN THE
BATHROOM.
AND THE GIRL, CRAZY CINDY
STARTED CURSING, AND SISTER
RENATA THOUGHT IT WAS
ME. SO, I
HAD BLOODY HANDS.
THEY ARE STINGING.
I AM TRYING TO NOT TOUCH THE
SOAP BECAUSE IT'S BURNING AND
SHE TAKES THE SOAP OUT OF MY
HANDS AND STICKS IT INTO MY
MOUTH.
>> YOU WERE SUCCESS.
>> I WAS
SIX.
PART OF MY PERSONALITY IS I
COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING BECAUSE
WHILE SHE IS SHOVING IT IN MY
MOUTH, I AM NOTING AND THERE ARE
BUBBLES COMING OUT OF MY NOSE.
SO, I COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING.
SO LIKE, YOU KNOW, AND I
TOLD
THIS WOMAN -- I CALLED THIS
WOMAN CRAZY.
COMEBACK?
>> RIGHT THERE.
THE TIMING WAS IMPECCABLE.
>> YOU WERE ALWAYS A HAM.
>>ISTS A HAM.
NO.
I WAS NOT A HAM.
I WAS HAM AND CHEESE SERVED ON A
PLATTER.
I WAS RIDICULOUS.
>> TELL A FEW CRAZY -- TELL US
WHO CRAZY CINDY WAS.
>> NO ONE HAS ASKED ME ABOUT HER
YET.
SO THAT CAME A LITTLE BIT AS A
SHOCK.
SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND, MY
CONFIDANTE, MY LITTLE ANGEL.
>> CRAZY CINDY PLAYS A REALLY
>> YES.
>> SHE IS A GIRL THAT IN SOME
WAYS, YOU SEEM TO LOOK UP TO.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> BECAUSE SHE IS BRAVE.
>> YES. SHE WAS VERY BRAVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE UNDERSTOOD
HOW BRAVE SHE WAS BECAUSE SHE
WAS KOOKY.
BUT SHE HAD AN AUDACITY TO HAVE
FUN AND TO TAKE CHANCES AND
RISKS AT A VERY HIGH COST.
>> YOU WRITE ABOUT HOW SHE WAS
INSTITUTIONALIZED AND WENT
THROUGH
ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY.
>> THAT WAS A RUMOR.
IT WAS RUMORED THAT SHE DID, SHE
WENT THROUGH THAT.
BUT SHE CAME BACK.
AND SHE WAS NOT THE SAME PERSON.
>> AND WE SHOULD SAY THAT ALL OF
THE NAMES WERE CHANGED IN THE
BOOK.
RIGHT, TO PROTECT IDENTITIES.
CRAZY.
YOU CALLED YOUR MOTHER, CRAZY
MANY TIMES IN THE BOOK.
YOU DESCRIBED BEATINGS FROM HER
AS WELL, THE VERBAL AND THE
PHYSICAL
ABUSE.
WAS SHE EVER DIAGNOSED AS
MENTALLY ILL?
>> SHE WAS DIAGNOSED AS MENTALLY
ILL AND YET THEY STILL DID NOT
TAKE HER PARENTAL RIGHTS AWAY
BECAUSE THEY VIEWED HER AS BEING
RESPONSIBLE BY PUTTING ME IN A
HOME, EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN A
LOVING HOME.
MY FATHER's SISTER.
>> YOU MEAN IN TIA's HOME.
>> IN TIA's HOME, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW,
INITIALLY I USED TO THINK THAT
SHE WAS JUST EXTREME, THAT SHE
HAD THIS EXTREME
PERSONALITY.
AND
THEN, BY EIGHT OR NINE YEARS
OLD, I WAS LIKE, NO, SHE IS
CRAZY.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW.
ILLNESS.
I JUST
SAID SHE IS CRAZY.
AND OTHER PEOPLE WOULD CONFIRM
IT TO ME, THINKING IT WAS FUNNY.
AND THERE WAS NOTHING FUNNY
ABOUT IT.
THERE IS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT
MENTAL ILLNESS.
>> WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, DID
YOU FEEL LIKE REJECTED BY HER?
DO YOU REMEMBER FEELING THAT?
>> DUH, YEAH.
YES. ABSOLUTELY.
FROM DAY ONE.
FROM DAY ONE.
HER.
>> FROM THE DAY I COULD REMEMBER
HER, I FELT REJECTED
BY HER.
FROM HER LEAVING ME IN THE HOME,
YOU KNOW, FOR HER TREATING ME
DIFFERENTLY FROM MY OTHER
SIBLINGS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOR HER NOT
TAKING ME BACK AND PEOPLE WOULD
ALWAYS ASK ME: WHY WOULD YOU
WANT TO GO BACK?
AND THAT'S THE CRAZY
DYNAMIC.
>> THAT'S THE
CRAZY DYNAMICS
THAT EXIST WITH THE ABUSER AND
THE PERSON BEING ABUSED.
YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY A CHILD AND
THEIR PARENTS.
YOU WANT YOUR PARENT TO LOVE
YOU.
YOU WANT YOUR PARENT TO LOVE
YOU.
YOU KNOW, AFTER AWHILE, AFTER
THEY BEAT YOU DOWN SO MUCH, YOU
WANT THEM EVEN MORE.
AND THAT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.
BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT IS THAT, AND IT WAS VERY TRUE
FOR ME.
>> WHAT'S SO STRIKE TO GO ME IS
HOW YOU ALWAYS HAD THIS SENSE OF
WHAT WAS RIGHT AND WRONG.
HOW DID YOU NOT SUCK OM TO THE
PRESSURES THAT WERE AROUND YOU?
WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN PEER
PRESSURE IN SOME CASES.
>> I NEVER FELT ANY PEER
CINDY.
>> TO GET IN TROUBLE.
>> BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN
EXPLAIN IT.
IT'S JUST THAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT
I WAS SPECIAL.
AND IT WASN'T AN ARROGANCE.
IT WAS A KNOWING AND
IT WAS
THERE IS A LIFE OUT THERE, AND I
AM JUST DOING TIME.
AND I AM GOING TO MAKE THIS TIME
WORK FOR ME.
I AM GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
RIGHT SO THAT WHEN I GET OUT OF
THIS EXISTENCE, OUT OF CHILDHOOD
AND INTO LIFE AS A YOUNG
ADULT,
I WANT ALL THAT IT CAN OFFER,
AND I WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
ALL THAT IT CAN OFFER.
SO, THEREFORE, I HAD TUNNEL
VISION IN THAT RESPECT.
IT'S: DO YOU WANT TO GO GET
HIGH?
NO.
DO YOU WANT TO GO HANG OUT WITH
BOYS?
NO.
NO.
>> WAS PART OF IT ALSO
WHEN YOU
WRITE THIS SO AFTER YOU LEAVE
THE CONVENT, YOU GO TO A GROUP
HOME AND YOU ARE ACTUALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND YOU WRITE ABOUT HOW YOU SORT
OF GOT THIS MORAL CODE FROM
THAT.
WAS THERE A SILVER LINING TO
BEING, YOU KNOW, IN THE SYSTEM
AS YOU DESCRIBE IT IN THE BOOK?
>> YES. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES OF
CHILD ABUSE AND THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM AND BEING AWARD OF THE
STATE,
THERE WERE -- POLICY
MEANS EVERYTHING.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> POLICY MEANS EVERYTHING.
THERE WAS POLICY CHANGES THAT
THE NUNS COULDN'T HIT US
ANYMORE.
THERE WERE POLICY
CHANGES THAT
ALLOWED US TO GET A JOB BECAUSE
UPSTATE, IT WAS SO MUCH
PREJUDICE
IF I WENT TO GO GET A JOB,
THE ONLY JOB I COULD GET WAS,
YOU CAN RAKE THE LEAVES IN FRONT
OF MY LAWN WITH THE CETA PROGRAM
WITH PRESIDENT CARTER ALLOWED ME
TO HAVE A REAL JOB AND GET A
REAL
PAYCHECK AT THE AGE OF
12,
13, 14.
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.
SO, WHEN WE WERE GOING TO THE
GROUP HOME, THEY TOLD US ALL OF
THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE
AVAILABLE TO YOU.
I WAS BEYOND EXCITED.
AND I WAS -- THE MOST EXCITED I
WAS ABOUT WAS THAT THERE WASN'T
GOING TO BE A DAMN NONE AROUND.
YAY, GOD BLESS AMERICA THREE
TIMES.
JUST THAT.
THAT WAS SUBSIDIZED BY THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.
I KNOW PEOPLE THING
ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THEY CALL IT SOCIAL
WELFARE AND TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO
HELP THE POOR.
YEAH.
IT'S NOT MY FAULT I WAS BORN
INTO POVERTY.
>> AND IT WORKED FOR YOU.
>> IT WORKED.
AND IT GAVE ME A FIGHTING
CHANCE.
YES, I WAS A CHILD OF POVERTY.
I WAS A CHILD OF THE SYSTEM.
WHEN I WE WANT TO GO LIVE BACK
WITH MY FAMILY IN BROOKLYN, I
WAS A CHILD OF WELFARE.
I WAS A CHILD, YOU KNOW, OF THIS
OR THAT.
AND CERTAIN POLICIES ALLOWED ME
TO
BETTER MYSELF BECAUSE I
WANTED BETTER AND I KNEW I WAS
BETTER, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT
LIKE WE ARE LIKE, OH, POOR ME.
CAN I HAVE A HANDOUT?
NO.
CAN YOU JUST HELP ME A LITTLE
BIT AND I WILL DO THE HARD WORK.
>> THAT'S WHAT I MEAN ABOUT
POLICY.
IT'S FANTASTIC.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH
SOCIAL SAFETY NETS TODAY AND
THOSE SAME THINGS FOR CHILDREN
THAT HEIGHT BE IN SIMILAR
SITUATIONS?
OR DO YOU THINK THAT'S SOMEWHAT
BEING DISASSEMBLED?
>> IT HAS SOMEWHAT BEEN
DISASSEMBLED. I MEAN HERE WE
ARE IN A GROUP HOME UPSTATE NEW
YORK RIGHT NEXT TO THE IBM
COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES.
NOT TOO SHABBY.
YOU KNOW, AND I AM PRIVY TO THE
MIDDLE TO UPPER MIDDLE CLASS
LIFESTYLE.
IS THAT HERE TODAY?
NO.
THERE ARE SO MANY CUT BACKS.
>> WHAT CHILD TODAY CAN GO
GET A
JOB THAT'S SUBSIDIZED BY THE
GOVERNMENT AND THEY CAN HAVE A
PAYCHECK AND LEARN HOW TO HAVE
THEIR OWN BANK ACCOUNT AND SO
ON?
IT'S NOT THERE.
WHAT HAS GOTTEN BETTER IS CHILD
PROTECTION LAWS.
>> HAS GOTTEN BETTER.
WHAT HASN'T GOTTEN BETTER
IS THE
CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN
OF THE CHILD.
EXCUSE ME.
FOR INSTANCE, I SEE SO MANY
CHILDREN BECAUSE OF BAD
RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE OF HURT
FEELINGS AND SCORNED LOVERS
BEING RIPPED AWAY FROM THEIR
PARENTS OR ONE PARENT, YOU KNOW,
BECOMING VINDICTIVE TOWARDS THE
OTHER AND THE CHILD IS IN THE
MIDDLE AND THEN THEY GET THROWN
LOST.
>> KIND OF THING HAS NOT GOTTEN
BETTER.
I THINK IT ACTUALLY HAS GOT INA
LITTLE BIT WORSE.
>> WE ARE TALKING TO ROSIE
PEREZ.
SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER.
COMING UP, HEAR WHAT SHE THREW
AT SOUL TRAIN HOST, DON
CORNELIUS.
>> ONLY ON AL JAZEERA AMERICA.
>> I lived that character.
>> GO ONE ON ONE WITH AMERICA'S
MOVERS AND SHAKERS.
>> We will be able to see
change.
>> GRIPPING...
INSPIRING...
ENTERTAINING.
NO TOPIC OFF LIMITS.
>> 'Cause I'm like, "dad, there
are hookers in this house".
>> EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATIONS YOU
WON'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> These are very vivid, human
stories.
>> If you have an agenda with
people, you sometimes don't see
the truth.
>> To watch new episodes of Talk
To Al Jazeera check your local
listings or visit aljazeera.com
>>> THIS IS "TALK TO AL JAZEERA
AMERICA" WE ARE TALKING TO ACTOR
AND
CHOREOGRAPHER ROSIE PEREZ.
>> YOU WERE INTO WATCHING
TELEVISION AS A KID LIKE THE
JACKIE GLEASON SHOW.
YOU REALLY LIKED OLD MOVIES.
YOU LIKED LISTENING TO ALL KINDS
OF MUSIC INCLUDING THE BEATLES.
IS THAT WHEN YOUR INTEREST IN
ENTERTAINMENT SORT OF BEGAN AS A
IN?
>> NO.
MY INTEREST IN
ENTERTAINMENT
BEGAN WITH MUSIC.
MY AUNT SAID I USED TO TRANS IN
MY
CRIB NON-STOP AND I LOVED
WHEN MY COUSINS WOULD CLAP FOR
ME.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
>> YOU LOVED BEING A
PERFORMER.
>> AS A BABY IN THE CRIB, BUT,
YES, TELEVISION PROVIDED
SOMETHING ELSE.
IT WAS PURE ESCAPISM, YOU KNOW.
I STILL LOVE TELEVISION TO THIS
DAY.
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PAST
TIMES.
>> SHALL SHOWS DO YOU LIKE.
>> I WATCH A LOT OF BOXING.
IT'S A METAPHOR FOR LIFE.
BOXING IS A SWEET SCIENCE TO HIT
AND NOT GET HIT.
I WAS DOING THAT FROM DAY ONE.
>> SOMETIMES YOU WOULD
PHYSICALLY FIGHT BACK.
>> YES. WELL, I HAD TO
PHYSICALLY FIGHT BACK OR ELSE MY
*** WAS GOING TO GET KICKED.
IT DID A LOT.
I GOT TIRED OF IT, SO I LEARNED
HOW TO BOX.
I LEARNED HOW TO FIGHT.
SCHOOL.
YOU FOUGHT BACK AGAINST THE NUNS
AND GOT IN A FIGHT
WITH DO
CORNELIUS ON "SOUL TRAIN".
>> THAT WAS A CLUE I NEEDED HELP
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT I'M
SO TOGETHER, I AM IN COLLEGE.
I AM GOING FOR MY MAJOR IN BIO
CHEMISTRY.
I AM FANTASTIC, YOU KNOW, I AM
ON "SOUL TRAIN."
AND IF YOU JUST PRESSED THE
WRONG BUTTON, IT WAS LIKE POW.
JUST A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION WOULD
OCCUR IN ME, AND THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENED WITH DO
CORNELIUS.
HE TURNED ME AND PULLED ME AND
YANKED ME INAPPROPRIATELY, AND I
FREAKED OUT.
AND I JUST STARTED SWINGING AND
STARTED GRABBING THINGS AND THE
FIRST THING I GRABBED WAS A
PIECE OF KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN.
IT WAS A LOW POINT.
I WAS BEYOND EMBARRASSED.
I WAS STILL WALKING OUT WITH
THIS PATHETIC BRAVADO LIKE I
DON'T CARE.
I DON'T CARE.
BY THE TIME I GOT IN THE CAR, I
STARTED CRYING.
I FELT LIKE AN IDIO.
>> YOU
THREW A CHICKEN WING AT
DON CORNELIUS'S FOREHEAD.
WRONG.
I THANK YOU GOODNESS WE WERE
ABLE TO MAKE UP BEFORE HUSBAND
PASSING.
WAY BEFORE HIS PASSING.
AND, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT I
MEAN.
IT'S LIKE AM I REALLY ENJOYING
MY LIFE?
IF I AM THIS PERSON HOLDING ON
TO THIS ANGER FROM THE PAST, AM
NO.
>> DO YOU THINK THE TEMPER WAS
INNATE IN YOU?
WAS THAT SOMETHING
YOU HAD AS A
CIRCUMSTANCES?
>> YOU KNOW, MY THERAPIST TOLD
ME THAT IT
WAS PROBABLY --
PROBABLY BECAME A PART OF ME
ONCE MY MOTHER GAVE ME AWAY.
>> THE ANGER?
>> THE ANGER.
AND THAT WAS WHEN I WAS A WEEK
OLD.
>> HAVE YOU EVER FULLY COME TO
GRIPS WITH THAT?
>> YES.
>> OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT
STILL RISES IN YOU SOMETIMES.
>> IT STILL RISES IN ME, BUT I
HAVE LEARNED TO CONTROL IT, AND
I HAVE LEARNED TO MODIFY IT.
YOU KNOW,
THROUGH THE REFERENCES
THROUGH COGNITIVE THERAPY,
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION IS A
BEAUTIFUL THING.
>> IT SEALS YOU HAD SOME LUCK,
THOUGH, LATER ON.
AT LEAST WHEN IT CAME TO YOUR
CAREER.
YOU STARTED BY CHOREOGRAPHING
>> YES.
>> WHICH IS HUGE.
>> IT'S HUGE.
I WAS SO EXCITED.
>> HOW DID THAT EVEN HAPPEN?
I MEAN DID YOU HAVE FORMAL DANCE
TRAINING, OR WAS IT JUST ALL OF
THOSE NIGHTS THAT YOU DESCRIBED
CLUBBING WITH YOUR COUSINS?
>> THE NUNS.
>> THE NUNS?
>> THE NUNS I HAVE TO GIVE THEM
CREDIT.
THEY PUT ME IN TAP.
THEY PUT ME IN TAP FROM DAY ONE.
THEY TOLD ME I HAD TALENT.
I WAS THE LEAD BUNNY IN THE
YOU KNOW.
>> I BET YOU WERE ADORABLE.
>> I WAS.
WITH MY YELLOW HIGHER AND POT
BELLY, I WAS SO CUTE BUT IT WAS
THE NUNS THAT STARTED IT OFF.
BUT IT WAS MU LOVE OF DANCING
AND ALWAYS BEING IN THE
NIGHTCLUBS AND, ALSO, BEING A
PERSON WHO ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE
THEY WERE PART OF THINGS BUT
REALLY WAS STANDING ON THE
OUTSIDE WATCHING.
AND THAT'S HOW I LEARNED HOW TO
CHOREOGRAPH.
>> THAT'S HOW I KNEW WHAT WOULD
BE HOT AND WHAT WOULD NOT BE
HOT.
I CAN
GAUGE, YOU KNOW, THE PULSE
OF A CLUB VERY, VERY
EASILY.
AND SO WHEN THAT OPPORTUNITY
CAME, I TOOK IT.
>> YOU PROCEEDED TO WORK WITH
EVERY MAJOR NAME IN HIP-HOP AT
THAT TIME.
WERE YOU EASILY ACCEPTED INTO
INTIMIDATING?
>> NO.
IT WASN'T INTIMIDATING TO ME.
IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING.
THE MISOGYNY WAS
DISGUSTING.
THE WAY THEY TREATED WOMEN WAS
APPALLING AND PROBABLY IS STILL
APPALLING.
AND, YOU KNOW, BUT I JUST
WOULDN'T -- I REFUSED TO BE
DENIED.
I WAS LIKE EXCUSE ME.
THOSE ARE YOUR ISSUES.
YOU HAVE TO GET OVER IT BECAUSE
I WANT TO GET PAID AND I WANT TO
DO THIS DANCE NUMBER AND I WANT
TO WORK WITH THIS PERSON. SO, I
AM GOING TO GO FOR IT.
>> YOU WERE LATER DISCOVERED IN
AN NIGHTCLUB BY
SPIKE LEE.
YOU ARE FROM BROOKLYN.
HE IS FROM BROOKLYN.
YOU GET THIS MAJOR ROLE IN "DO
THE RIGHT THING."
HOW MUCH OF THAT PERFORMANCE WAS
ANY?
>> I THINK IT WAS DERIVED FROM
MY LIFE FROM ME OBSERVING ALL OF
THE TRAPS THAT A LOT OF
GIRLS
FELL.
YOU KNOW, OF LOOKING FOR THE
VALIDATION OUTSIDE OF THE HOME,
OF EARLY TEEN
PREGNANCY,
FRUSTRATION OF NOT GETTING WHAT
YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE KNOWING
THAT YOU DESERVE MORE BUT NOT
HAVING THE WHEREWITHAL TO GO GET
MORE.
AND FOR METION MY PERSONAL LIFE
OF, YOU KNOW, SPIKE WAS LIKE, I
NEED YOU TO GET REALLY ANGRY
RIGHT HERE.
I
GO, THAT'S A WALK IN THE PARK.
DISPOSAL?
>> I HAD IT AT MY DISPOSAL.
SO EVEN THOUGH YES HAVE, YOU
KNOW, AN ACTING LESSON IN MY
LIFE, I, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE I
WAS ALWAYS ACTING, ALWAYS
PROTECTING MYSELF, ALWAYS
ESCAPING INTO DIFFERENT
REALITIES.
SO IT WAS SURPRISING TO ME HOW
EASY IT WAS
>> I'M STEPHANIE SY.
WE ARE TALKING TO ACTOR AND
CHOREOGRAPHER ROSIE PEREZ.
WE WILL HAVE MORE IN JUST A
MINUTE
>> I've been asked to keep my
voice down cause we are so close
to the ISIL position.
>> Who is in charge,
and are they going to
be held to account?
>> But know we're following the
research team into the fire.
>> They're learning
how to practice democracy...
>> ...just seen tear gas being
thrown...
>> ...Glad somebody care about
us man...
>> Several human workers were
kidnapped...
>> This is what's left of the
hospital.
>> Is a crime that's
under reported...
>> What do you think...
>> We're making history right
now...
>> Al Jazeera America
>>> WHAT'S INTERESTING I DIDN'T
KNOW UNTIL I READ YOUR BOOK IS
THAT
ACTING AND CHOREOGRAPHING.
YOU WERE IN COLLEGE, A BIO
CHEM MAJOR.
DO YOU THINK YOU CHOSE
ROUTE?
>> THIS IS WHERE I AM SUPPOSED
TO BE.
THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND
YET I STILL HAVE FANTASIES OF
FINISHING MY DEGREE
AND, YOU
KNOW, IT'S I STILL FANT SUES.
I AM A NERD.
>> YOU WORK WITH KIDS IN THE
URBAN ARTS PARTNERSHIP.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT WORK AND HOW
MUCH OF THAT IS YOU SORT OF
ADDRESSING SOME OF THE NEEDS
THAT YOU HAD IN CHILD
HOOD.
>> THAT'S 100% ADDRESSING THE
NEEDS I HAD IN CHILDHOOD.
I SEE THESE TITLE I KIDS MEANING
LOW, POVERTY, HIGH-RISK KIDS
BEING IGNORED IN SCHOOL.
THESE KIDS
WHO CAN TAKE ON THE
WORLD, BE OUR NEXT
PRESIDENT, BE
THE HEAD OF, YOU KNOW, APPLE.
THEY COULD DO ALL OF THESE
THINGS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE
ACCESS.
THEY DON'T HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT I
CAN TO HELP PROVIDE THAT ACCESS
AND OPPORTUNITY AND, ALSO WERING
JUST TO VALIDATE THEM AND SAY TO
THEM, YOU ARE REALLY SMART.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE DICTATE WHO
YOU ARE AS A PERSON BECAUSE
I
SEE RIGHT INSIDE THAT YOU ARE
NOT THAT.
>> SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ART.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT YOU BEING ABLE
TO WORK WITH THESE KIDS ONE ON
ONE AND SORT OF SHARE WITH THEM?
>> AS MUCH AS I CAN, YES.
AND TO TELL THEM, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU COULD COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR
SITUATION ALL YOU WANT.
WHEN YOU BECOME AN ADULT, THE
WORLD DOES NOT CARE.
SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS FIND
SOLUTIONS TO YOUR COMPLAINTS.
>> AT THE END OF YOUR MEMOIR, IT
BECOMES CLEAR THAT ANOTHER THING
YOU WANT IS TO SORT OF SET THE
RECORD STRAIGHT.
THIS IS YOUR STORY.
>> YES.
>> WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT THIS
BOOK TO ACCOMPLISH?
>> I WANT IT TO SAY MANY THINGS.
I THINK
FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO
SAY THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN
GROUP OF PEOPLE
HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES THAT ARE THOUGHT
AS LESS THAN JUST BECAUSE THEY
WERE BORN INTO POVERTY.
AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.
AND IT'S NOT FAIR AND IT'S NOT
TRUE.
AND I WANT THOSE PEOPLE
TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO
PUSH THROUGH ALL OF THAT, PUSH
THROUGH ALL
OF THEIR FEARS AND
DIDN'T DOS AND STUFF INTO THEIR
GREATNESS AND CLAIM IT BECAUSE
RIGHT.
>> IT IS A RIVETING AND
INSPIRING MEMOIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING TO
AL JAZEERA
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.