Originally Published April 27, 2022
Jamie Foxx is an open book. From his fresh start on the comedy circuit to his astounding run as a global entertainer in music, television, and film, Foxx is one of the Hollywood stars that has managed to have a career of longevity and positivity — at least, that’s what has been presented to the general public. Behind the scenes, Foxx, born Eric Bishop, has overcome tremendous disappointments and the statistical curse of being a Black man in America.
In his book Act Like You Got Some Sense, Foxx reveals some intimate details about his relationship with his two daughters in a series of short stories. The Ray actor gives fathers practical tips on being a “girldad,” all while maintaining a very hilarious sense of humor. In addition, he also shares his experiences in life that shaped his outlook and values.
An unforgettable story occurs in the chapter “Trippin’ Out” when the Any Given Sunday actor decided to experiment with drugs.
He writes, “I didn’t start smoking weed until the summer after I graduated from high school, right before I went to college. I was like, Damn, this is what I’ve been missing?! So I went in hard, making up for lost time, smoking practically every day that summer.”
By the time Foxx arrived to San Diego, California, the location of his college, he had accumulated a new set of friends and they were into experimenting with drugs.
Foxx continues, “I was hanging with some friends and this dude gave us a little bag of stuff. I was all in. We smoked up the loose weed that was in the bag first, not messing with the rolled joint that was already in there. But after we were high, I pulled out the rolled joint. Yo, let me try this shit. I knew nothing about the dude who gave it to us besides his name. At the time, I felt indestructible.”
However, Foxx was anything but indestructible. The joint was laced with LSD causing Foxx to experience some very oddball hallucinations. At one point, he felt like he was drowning. His reaction was so intense that he landed in the emergency room.
After medical treatment and some much-needed rest, Foxx thought the trip was over. Instead, he started having the same mental torment as before, ending up all alone in his closet. His resolve was to travel back home to Terrell, Texas to be in the comfort of his grandmother, Estelle Talley.
“The twenty-six-hour drive from San Diego to Texas was tough. At times I would think there were dudes sitting in the car next to me and I’d get all paranoid,” Foxx says in the book.
From the moment his grandmother saw him she just knew that he was on drugs. After a brief interrogation, she cooked up a big breakfast for Foxx and sent him to the grocery store. Although the familiarity of his hometown brought some comfort, it wasn’t enough to eradicate his paranoia. Foxx returned to San Diego to endure the remainder of the bad acid trip. His takeaway from the experience was profound.
He cautions that if people read his book while in the midst of an acid trip, they should “remember to change [their] posture to be upright, drink lots of water and put on some nice music.”
His final takeaway is one that made him an even better father.
Foxx says, “They say that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but what doesn’t kill you also gives you insight into helping your kids when they make mistakes.”
Act Like You Got Some Sense is available at book stores and Amazon.
