Additional Coverage:
- Tina Knowles sets the record straight: ‘People have so many misconceptions about my family’ (latimes.com)
Tina Knowles-Lawson, best known as the mother of Beyoncé and Solange, shares her own fascinating life story in her new memoir, “Matriarch.” The book details her challenging upbringing in Galveston, Texas, her career in singing, sewing, and beauty, and her complex marriage to Mathew Knowles.
Knowles-Lawson also discusses her experience as a working mom, including raising Beyoncé’s bandmate Kelly Rowland and niece Angie Beyincé, and her success in opening a hair salon for Black women in Houston. Her current role as vice chair of Beyoncé’s haircare line, Cécred, seems a natural progression.
In “Matriarch,” Knowles-Lawson dispels the “stage mom” label, highlighting her family’s legacy of design and sewing, notably her work as Destiny’s Child’s stylist. She bravely shares her recent breast cancer diagnosis and remission, and recounts a traumatic, unwanted gynecological exam she endured as a teenager. She hopes speaking out will encourage greater sensitivity from medical professionals.
Knowles-Lawson describes “Matriarch” as a story of resilience, honoring generations of women in her family “who made something out of nothing,” starting with her grandmothers who were enslaved.
In a recent interview, Knowles-Lawson explained that she wrote the memoir for her children and grandchildren to preserve her family history. She felt it was important to share her own perspective, especially given public misconceptions about her family.
The book, which she worked on for over two years, was initially over 1,000 pages and required significant editing. Knowles-Lawson, a self-described storyteller, found the process of recalling memories relatively easy, but condensing the material proved challenging.
Knowles-Lawson emphasized that the memoir focuses squarely on her own experiences, not those of her famous daughters. While their lives are intertwined, she deliberately avoided sharing details that were overly personal or invasive, respecting their right to tell their own stories. She shared relevant sections with her daughters throughout the writing process to ensure their comfort.
Family names and their various spellings play a significant role in the book. Knowles-Lawson explores the evolution of her maiden name, tracing it back to its original spelling, Boyancé. She also recounts the surprising discovery of a generational connection to the name Solange, revealing that several of her female ancestors shared the name.
Knowles-Lawson found writing about her past trauma, including the medical assault and her cancer diagnosis, to be a healing experience. She hopes her story will resonate with others and shed light on the importance of empathy, particularly for those who are vulnerable due to poverty or lack of access to resources.
When asked what advice she would give to her daughters if they chose to write memoirs, Knowles-Lawson expressed encouragement. She believes everyone should document their life story, whether for publication or personal reflection, as a way to preserve family history and promote healing.