Taraji P. Henson on The View: Read an Excerpt From Memoir 'Around The Way Girl'

On Wednesday, December 14 actress Taraji P. Henson appeared on The View  where she talked about her recently released book "Around The Way Girl: A Memoir." The book is an inspiring and funny book about family, friends, the hustle required to make it from DC to Hollywood, and the joy of living in your own truth. 

The actress, who can be seen playing the fierce Cookie Lyon on FOX's "Empire" opens up in the book about growing up in Washington, D.C. in the middle of a crack epidemic to then leaving an abusive relationship and moving to Los Angeles with her son and raising him as a single mom.

Taraji P. Henson Gets Personal In "Around The Way Girl"

"I decided to tell my story because once social media became really big, people started reading my interviews and they're like 'You moved to California with $700 and your son. How did you do it?' 'You got pregnant in college and you graduated," Henson tells The View co-hosts when asked what prompted her to release the book. "It felt like people needed to hear my story and as an artist I was like 'I have the mic.'"

Read an excerpt from "Around The Way Girl: A Memoir" by Taraji P. Henson.