For over four decades, Whoopi Goldberg has been a beloved figure in American entertainment. She attributes her remarkable success to her family and her upbringing in a New York City housing project.
Goldberg shares her life story in her new memoir, “Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me,” a deeply personal account that she also narrates in the audiobook version. The memoir delves into her relationships with her mother, Emma Johnson, who passed away in 2010, and her brother, Clyde Johnson, who died in 2015.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Whoopi Goldberg in the studio. Congratulations, Whoopi! Your memoir is sure to be a bestseller.
Whoopi: Thank you. That would be wonderful, but for me, it was about stopping the speculation about my life.
Interviewer: What kind of speculation?
Whoopi: People often make assumptions about my upbringing because I grew up in the projects. They think they know my struggles, but I didn’t realize I was poor until others pointed it out. This book is my way of setting the record straight.
Interviewer: Your memoir is truly a love letter to your mom and brother. You describe yourself as a quirky kid from the projects who became incredibly fortunate. Your mom used to say you had two choices: cry about what you don’t have or figure it out and make something happen.
Whoopi: Exactly. That’s how I was raised and how I live my life. When things go wrong, I don’t waste time feeling sorry for myself. I just move on because time is precious.
Interviewer: Reflecting on your career, how did it feel to hear that you’ve been in the business for over four decades?
Whoopi: It was a mix of gasping and laughing. It still feels like yesterday. From working with Spielberg on “The Color Purple” to all my other projects, everything still feels fresh.
Interviewer: You mentioned Mike Nichols changed your life. How did he influence you?
Whoopi: Mike Nichols, along with Steven Spielberg, gave me my start in show business. They believed in me and opened doors for me. Regardless of what people think of me, they can’t deny my talent.
Interviewer: Your mother’s friend once said you weren’t cute and needed to get a job. Did that hurt?
Whoopi: Not really. People who aren’t conventionally attractive know it. If criticism is constructive, I can take it. If it’s meant to hurt, it’s too late for that.
Interviewer: Despite your fame, you said you didn’t feel accepted in Hollywood until you won an Oscar. Why?
Whoopi: My movies gained popularity on TV rather than in theaters. Even though I did successful films like “Sister Act” and “Ghost,” I never felt fully accepted until I won an Oscar. People wanted me to be a female version of Eddie Murphy, but I wasn’t a standup comedian; I was an actor.
Interviewer: Your book is candid about your past cocaine addiction and how you managed to stop. How did you do it?
Whoopi: I had to make a choice. Did I want to live in misery or change my life? On my birthday, I decided to leave that life behind and never looked back.
Interviewer: Your mother exposed you to culture and the arts despite financial struggles. How did she manage that?
Whoopi: Growing up in New York City, you didn’t need much money to experience culture. My mother was curious and wanted us to see what the world had to offer. She believed that exposure to different things could help us find our own paths.
Interviewer: She did a wonderful job. “Bits and Pieces” is a beautiful tribute to your mother and brother.
Whoopi: Thank you. It’s out now, and I hope readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
“Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me” is available now wherever books are sold, and you can also enjoy Whoopi’s narration in the audiobook version.
