Make Me Beautiful - A Memoir A Memoir

Take this journey through the life and times of Pamela Lundy, an African-American ''Baby Boomer'' from Detroit, Michigan. Her intriguing, impactful story spans over five decades of time. Her earliest childhood memories are tainted with visions of darkness and despair. She and her siblings are robbed of their innocence and become the frightened, fragile victims of incest. Pamela is left carrying a boatload of baggage filled with guilt and shame. But she refuses to fade into the background. Although the survivor in her emerges, the traumatizing experience stays with her throughout most of her lifetime. She suppresses her feelings and attempts to hide behind attaining and maintaining the outer image of beauty. Time after time, in desperation, she attempts to capture it. Walk with her through the days of pony tail wearing, hopscotch playing and penny candy eating. Get a feel for the 1950's and 60's smoke-filled beauty shops as the ''pressing comb'' works its transitional magic converting Black women's hair from kinky to straight. Learn the plight of this Black woman's attempts to replicate the images of the Caucasian women which graced the covers of popular magazines, the ones that set the standard for what was deemed as beautiful. March through the times of civil unrest and experience a revolution in America. Read about Pamela's personal encounter with racial prejudice, after which she develops a clear perception of the magnitude of the raw, uncut hatred toward her people. Her journey continues as she evolves from a child into a woman. Her life seems plagued with obstacles. She faces many challenges (among which are)...domestic violence, becoming a divorcee and single-parenting. But for the most part, she is successful at turning her struggles into triumphs. Ultimately, Pamela learns to view life as a series of experiences and lessons learned. Throughout this book she has incorporated her reflections, of which she shares with her readers. Her story concludes as she finds the strength and courage to dig deep inside herself and break free from the demons of her past. As she unmasks her outer image of beauty and perfection, she relinquishes her heavy load of shame and realizes what the true essence of beauty really is.