HEART to heart
What was childhood like in Gary, Ind.?
People bullied me and made fun of me growing up because of my race and the fact that I didn’t have the proper clothes. But you have to hold onto your faith to pull you through. My faith helped me survive.
Did you confront any traumatic memories while writing your memoir?
I saw my mother abused and beaten. It forever scars you. I was molested for the first time at 4. Apparently, I told my mom, but I buried it. It’s painful to recall. I don’t know why someone would do that to a child.
How do those events impact you today?
It gives me great compassion for women and children. I do a lot of work to help poor children and victims of domestic violence.
How did you discover acting?
When I was a sophomore in college, I had a friend who was an actor. He pushed me to take an acting course, and the teacher told me I had real talent. I knew I had to pursue it.
What was it like trying to make it?
Extremely difficult. There were a lot of obstacles, pain and rejection. I cried a river of tears before I got What’s Happening!!
How did it feel to find such success?
It was heaven on Earth! When you ask God for something and you get it, that’s a dream come true. I was walking on a cloud.
Did the cast always get along?
We had our arguments at times. The fame went to some people’s heads, like Fred [Rerun] Berry. Once he started doing drugs, it changed him. He became an enemy to himself and all of us. But before he died
[in 2003], he became born again and he asked me for forgiveness. I officiated at his funeral. I miss him a lot. I would give a billion dollars to have him back.
Didn’t you dabble in drugs as well?
I did it on weekends — never on set. I sniffed coke and did weed, liquor, mushrooms and quaaludes. The partying got out of hand. The drugs take you up, but then you come crashing down to hell. You hit rock bottom where you feel like you’re losing your mind. I cried out to God, and I knew I had to make a change. I’ve been clean for over 28 years.
You’ve said you felt typecast after the show ended. So why did you reprise your role on What’s Happening Now!!?
People loved Raj. I would get mobbed in public. I was getting all this love, and no one else was calling, so I went with that blessing.
Do you keep in touch with your co-stars?
I do! Danielle Spencer is a doctor, and Haywood Nelson is married, and his wife manages him. He’s reinventing himself.
Did you ever reinvent yourself?
Oh yes, and Muhammad Ali had a lot to do
with that! In 1982, he opened my eyes. I was upset I wasn’t working, and he reminded me how I made people laugh. He took me to Cedars-Sinai hospital in LA to visit people and make them happy. Seeing these sick people jumping up and down to meet me gave me the strength to move on.
“I had no choice but to go to school every day and face bullies. Yet I’m still here!” — Ernest
How come you never married?
I was engaged a couple of times, but I prefer to be single. I’m open to marriage, but right now I’m married to my faith and my church.
What’s left on your to-do list?
Continue working, be a good person and climb that ladder and share it with others. Being famous isn’t important. I’m just happy to have peace within myself.
Sounds like you’re grateful…
Yes, I am! I cry just thinking about where I came from. I’ve been in the hellhole, and I’ll never go back. I’m excited for the future, and I know the best is yet to come. This is a great time for me! — Reporting by Ilyssa Panitz