Laverne Cox's unflinching memoir 'Transcendent' is an electrifying read that catapults you into the heart of her raw, unbridled journey. It's a no-holds-barred account of the childhood trauma she endured as a gender non-conforming child in Mobile, Alabama – a place where the very notion of being different was met with hostility and fear.
One shattering memory stands out: an 8-year-old Cox, who at the time was still being raised as a boy, buying a geisha-decorated fan with her pocket money. What should have been a harmless purchase sparked a furious row with her teacher and mother, Gloria – a woman who frequently hurled homophobic slurs like verbal daggers. The aftermath saw Cox enrolled in conversion therapy, a vicious experience that left her feeling brutalised and vulnerable. As she recounts the pain of those years, it's hard not to be moved by the sheer weight of her story.
'Transcendent' is a masterful chronicle of Cox's relentless drive for success, which began over two decades ago in New York City. It's a tale of dogged perseverance, where she survived on fumes, attending acting classes and auditioning tirelessly – often with devastating rejection. Yet through the darkness, Cox refused to be defeated, her spirit unbroken by the industry's notorious bias against women, non-binary individuals, and Black people.
A significant chunk of the book delves into the toxic relationship between Cox and her mother. The wounds inflicted by Gloria run deep – from the cruel warnings about ending up 'down-and-out in New Orleans in a dress' to the heart-wrenching incident where Gloria abandoned her children at their estranged father's home, branding them 'fucking freaks.' This event led to a harrowing month-long stint in an orphanage before Cox and her twin brother Lamar were finally reclaimed by their mother.
Despite the anguish, Cox approaches her mother's story with compassion and understanding. She acknowledges Gloria's dire financial struggles and the trauma she herself endured as a child – factors that might have contributed to her abusive behaviour. The memoir also sheds light on the pivotal moment when Gloria enrolled both children in the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where Cox discovered her passion for dance – a skill that would eventually set her on the path to stardom.
'Transcendent' is an unflinching portrayal of life lived in constant fear and isolation. Cox recounts the numbing dread that gripped her as she navigated a world where being different was met with violence and hostility. Her story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience – a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there's always hope for redemption and transformation.