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Tina Knowles sets the record straight: ‘People have so many misconceptions about my family’

BBG News

Tina Knowles is primarily recognized as a devoted matriarch. She gained fame as the mother of Beyoncé and Solange, but her personal journey, detailed in her recently published memoir, offers an even more captivating tale. Titled “Matriarch”, the 400-plus page book delves into Tina’s humble beginnings in Galveston, Texas, where she was affectionately known as Badass Tenie B; explores her ventures into singing, sewing, and beauty; and reveals the ups and downs of her marriage to Mathew Knowles.

Working both as a mother at home and a mentor to Kelly Rowland and her niece Angie Beyincé, Knowles overcame challenges to establish a hair salon in Houston specifically catering to professional Black women. It’s only natural that she now holds the position of vice chair in Beyoncé’s haircare brand, Cécred.

Knowles refutes the label of being a pushy stage mom, even while continuing her family’s tradition of creating and tailoring clothes, serving as Destiny’s Child’s stylist. She also opens up, discussing her breast cancer diagnosis last summer (now in remission) and her experience of undergoing an unwanted, intrusive gynecological exam as a teenager – “I believe it’s crucial to discuss this now so people comprehend the traumatic nature of such an event and understand the need for doctors to be extremely sensitive when dealing with anything similar.

Essentially, “Matriarch” is a tale that showcases multiple generations of women who have built something from nothing, as described by Knowles. The narrative is deeply rooted in the heritage of his grandmothers who were once enslaved, yet managed to persevere, survive, and maintain their families.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Why was now the right time to publish a memoir?

For a number of years, I’ve been composing a narrative for both my children and grandchildren. As my parents were older when they had me, I never got the chance to meet my grandparents. Growing up, I was always curious about our family history, so I decided to create something that my grandchildren could read and learn about me and our ancestors, ensuring they would have a connection with their lineage.

At present, I find it essential to share our story, as there are numerous misunderstandings surrounding mine and my family. I wish to be the one to narrate our tale personally, rather than having someone else recount it for us.

This work is incredibly detailed, extending beyond 400 pages. Can you tell me how much time you’ve invested in it and describe your writing journey?

Over the course of approximately two years, I’ve been jotting down notes and recording ideas on my phone extensively. Since I’m a storyteller, recalling the events wasn’t difficult. However, the real challenge was trimming the content down to around 400 pages; initially, it totaled about 1,000!

At times, the narratives of relatives or acquaintances of well-known individuals may blend together, yet in “Matriarch,” your narrative stands out distinctly. How did you manage to keep your unique voice consistent throughout?

During our discussions about writing the book, I was firm in believing that readers would need to be captivated by my narrative and viewpoint, as that’s what they will encounter. There won’t be any focus on my children’s stories. Although they are somewhat connected, there is nothing overly personal or intrusive [regarding them]. They have their own tales to share.

Were your daughters, or other family members, ever uncomfortable with any of the stories you’ve shared because they mirrored their experiences? If so, how did you handle those situations?

Every time the book discussed my children, I’d forward those pages to them for approval, ensuring I respected their privacy regarding what they felt comfortable sharing. Fortunately, they never expressed any discomfort about specific topics being discussed.

Whenever the book talked about my kids, I showed them the relevant pages first, to make sure they were fine with it. Thankfully, there was nothing that made them uncomfortable or hesitant to talk about.

Music

In a playful manner, Beyoncé advises her mother, Tina Knowles, not to reveal too many secrets as she prepares for the release of her memoir titled ‘Matriarch.’ This book is set to be available in bookstores come the following spring.

In the book, the concept of naming holds significant importance and manifests in various ways such as miswriting your birth name or selecting a name for your child. How crucial was it for you to map out your family’s history by exploring names?

The significance of our family name’s unique spellings wasn’t something we pondered much as children. However, curiosity struck when I embarked on researching our ancestors. The intrigue grew as I discovered various iterations of our surname. The original spelling was Boyancé, which led me to trace its history and how it evolved into the forms we currently use. It was fascinating to delve into this genealogical quest to find instances where our name was spelled similarly to the original version.

Here’s another way of expressing it:

It was quite fascinating when I discovered that Solange’s name originated from a French baby name book I purchased in Paris for a friend. Upon her return, I found myself the owner of the book once more and selected Solange out of all the names within its pages. Quite unexpectedly, I later learned that my great-grandmother, two great-grandmothers, and great-great-great grandmother all shared the first or middle name Solange. This revelation left me astounded; it felt as though my ancestors were sending me a message.

Music

On her extensive latest album, the leading authority in pop music delves into the heritage of country music and embraces its humor, aesthetic, and grandeur.

As a passionate film lover, I delve into some harrowing experiences in my book, such as the medical assault I endured during my teenage years and my recent battle with breast cancer. I admit that undergoing treatments for breast cancer stirred up old traumas, but was the process of writing about those difficult moments triggering for me?

In my teenage years, I experienced something deeply painful and healing only came much later. I chose to keep quiet about it back then due to feelings of embarrassment and shame. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but I confided in my older sister on that day. Afterward, I didn’t share my story with anyone until many years had passed, when I confronted the trauma during therapy and recognized its profound impact on me.

I felt compelled to speak up now, sharing my experience, so others might grasp the gravity of such traumas and encourage medical professionals to be exceptionally sensitive when dealing with similar situations. My struggle wasn’t only about racial discrimination; it was also about being poor, feeling dehumanized, and lacking a voice. The prejudice didn’t just stem from racism but from the lack of recognition as a fellow human due to my financial status.

If Beyoncé or Solange wanted to write a memoir themselves, what advice would you have for them?

I’m eagerly wishing that the two individuals will pen down their life stories, as they lead such intriguing lives and could inspire countless others with their experiences. I firmly believe that writing one’s life story can be incredibly therapeutic and rewarding in numerous aspects. In my opinion, it would prove to be an enriching journey for them. I strongly advocate that everyone should consider writing their own life story, regardless of whether it gets published or not. Leaving behind a personal narrative is, in my view, a valuable legacy to pass on to future generations.

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2025-04-22 17:31

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