In the enthralling tale, BETTY WASHINGTON, a mother of three, recounts her life to us about the trials of being a part of the black elite in the 1960's. At a time when most black women were trapped by society in roles forced upon them, Betty Washington was able to push past those barriers and enjoy a life of luxury. But that luxury came with a shocking price after she is forced to shoot one of her womanizing husband's multiple lovers at his office. Certain she will never find love again, fate steps in the form of a then little known actor Ivan Dixon who she sees in a film, A Raisin in the Sun. A love affair birthed by fate, and tested by the fires of Washington's walk with Christ. It's a battle that forces Washington to choose between her soulmate and her conscience. ***** Bettina Washington presents a life story about passionate self-discovery that reveals the challenges faced by a Black woman fashioning her own path. With feisty and revealing prose Ms. Washington tells an extraordinary story full of surprising turns that include devastating betrayal, extraordinary love, tragic loss and an ultimate triumphant of spirit. This well crafted autobiography is essential reading for anyone who has ever attempted to pursue an authentic life no matter the cost. -Lisa B. Thompson is the author of the book "Beyond the Black Lady: Sexuality and the New African American Middle Class" and the play "Single Black Female".
About the Author: Bettina E. WASHINGTON A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Washington is a retired educator of 28 years with Oakland Public Schools. She married George Washington -- a WWII veteran and a star basketball player for Morgan State College -- at the age of 19. She supported her husband through dental school at Howard University, and began her studies there as well, pledging in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. After her husband's internship at the Jersey City Medical Center, the Washingtons moved West for better opportunities. Betty Washington eventually finished her studies and graduated from Pepperdine University with a bachelor's degree in Sociology. Married for 18 years, the couple has three children. Today, Washington is the mother of four, and resides in Northern California. ABOUT CO-AUTHOR AND FILMMAKER FATIMA WASHINGTON A native of Oakland, Calif., Fatima Washington is a graduate of USC's School of Cinematic Arts and currently working on her new indie, "She's Got a Plan," set to hit the film festival circuit this year. "She's Got a Plan," is a dramatic comedy about Isis Angelo, an aspiring Hollywood writer-director who is beginning to realize that her dreams just may never come true. In the tradition of Robert Townsend's "Hollywood Shuffle," with elements of Larry David's "Curb Your "Enthusiasm", "She's Got a Plan," is a ground-breaking dramatic comedy, satirizing the Hollywood experience. The ensemble cast includes Washington, Faizon Love, Paula Jai Parker, Golden Brooks, Ja'Net Dubois, Chris Williams, Charles Malik Whitfield, Kelitta Smith and Johnny 3Nutz.