So You Want to Talk About Race

Retta, star of NBC’s Parks and Recreation and a comedienne who’s no stranger to the small screen (she was a regular on The Game), tells her story in a self-effacing memoir. Retta says she always knew she wanted to be funny, but she had no idea how to get there―let alone while growing up in a strict Liberian household (the daughter of two immigrants). Although her parents were skeptical about her career choice, the comedian went to Duke University with the goal of becoming a doctor. While studying there, however, she began picking up open-mic nights and competitions—and quickly realized that this was where she was meant to shine. A few years later, after winning an annual Comedy Central stand-up competition in 2008, Retta landed a role as Donna Meagle on Parks and Recreation. As for her success as a comedian? That took more than 30 years. And it was only possible because of one man: her father.