*Andria Mayberry, mother of rapper and actor, Bryshere Gray, has penned her first book titled “Before Empire: Raising Bryshere “Yazz The Greatest” Gray.”
In an exclusive interview with Rolling Out, Mayberry opens up about life as a single mother and why she decided to expose her family’s darkest days in this new book.
“I worked two jobs. I came from the projects and bought a home to provide a better life for my kids,” she reveals. “When you live in the projects, you don’t have light and gas bills. I lived off credit cards most of the time just so I could buy food. There were times when I couldn’t pay the mortgage. I had so many credit cards that you couldn’t even count. All of this was new for me.”
READ RELATED STORY: De La Soul Release Instrumental Tracks from Grammy Nominated ‘And the Anonymous Nobody’
Bryshere, also known by the stage name Yazz The Greatest, is best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon in the Fox musical drama television series “Empire.” It’s a role that earned him a nomination for an image award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. Earlier this year, he portrayed Michael Bivins in the BET miniseries “The New Edition Story.”
On why she decided to pen this book about pain, depression, anxiety and her son’s ADHD.
“I had a lot of parents who would ask how did I manage his ADHD. I will speak more about it. It’s all about education. It’s the only way you are going to be able to help your child. You can’t show up meetings in blind. You need to know your rights and your child’s rights. When they are diagnosed, they are covered under the law. They can’t suspend your child [at school] for behavior that’s a manifestation of their disorder. They can’t control their behavior. That’s why they become aggressive because they feel like no one is listening to them. I know that difference between disrespectful and their disorder. The kids are not always wrong. I too had to learn it. I had to educate myself on the medication. My son would eat me out of house and home. The medication suppressed his disorder. As a single parent who prepares a pot of spaghetti that you’ve budgeted would last for three days and it’s all gone the first day, you are ready to discipline your child. You can’t be mad,” she enlightens.
Head on over to Rolling Out to read more.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
