Rabbit: A Memoir

Patricia Williams · Jeannine Amber

Aug 2017 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

Nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work

"An absolute must-read" – Shondaland

“[Rabbit] tells how it went down with brutal honesty and outrageous humor” – New York Times

They called her Rabbit.

Patricia Williams (aka Ms. Pat) was born and raised in Atlanta at the height of the crack epidemic. One of five children, Pat watched as her mother struggled to get by on charity, cons, and petty crimes. At age seven, Pat was taught to roll drunks for money. At twelve, she was targeted for sex by a man eight years her senior. By thirteen, she was pregnant. By fifteen, Pat was a mother of two.

Alone at sixteen, Pat was determined to make a better life for her children. But with no job skills and an eighth-grade education, her options were limited. She learned quickly that hustling and humor were the only tools she had to survive. Rabbit is an unflinching memoir of cinematic scope and unexpected humor. With wisdom and humor, Pat gives us a rare glimpse of what it’s really like to be a black mom in America.

Ratings and reviews

It's utterly amazing how someone who had Nothing, rose up like this. So many others can sit back and blame their upbringing but not ms. Pat. This story makes you appreciate what you have and want to spread love to everyone in need. I am in awe of her for being so honest and especially for loving all these babies like her own. That truly is inspiring and I give you mad props! Keep living your best life, you deserve it!

I already loved Ms. Pat and this book made me love her even more. It shows how big her heart is and how real she is. Perfectly imperfect! Love this and will be recommending to anyone that will listen!

Came across her interview with The Breakfast Club on YouTube and instantly fell in love with her personality and the story she told was very captivating. I decided to support and buy her book and I'm so glad that I did.

About the author

Patricia Williams, the fifth child of an alcoholic single mother, came of age in Atlanta at the height of the crack epidemic. At 12, she had her first boyfriend; by 15 she was a mother of two. Williams wanted to give her children the kind of life she’d always dreamed of, but with no education or job skills her options were slim. Thus began Williams’ lucrative career as a drug dealer. After numerous run-ins with the law and a stint behind bars, Williams decided to turn her life around. She now goes by the stage name Ms. Pat and enjoys a successful career as a comedian. Williams lives in Indianapolis with her husband and three children.

Award-winning journalist Jeannine Amber lives in Brooklyn with her daughter, Niko.