They actually met when they were like 13-14 years old, but she thought he was ugly and ran away. Je’Niece McCullough: My mom is my dad’s high school sweetheart. Could you tell our readers a little about your mother? GO BANG! Magazine: The public is very aware of your famous father, but not so many know about your mother. He would even comb my hair and take me to school in the morning. He would take me just about everywhere with him-the beach, to the community center where he coached basketball. Je’Niece McCullough: Some of my fondest memories that I had with my dad are in my early years, long before his fame. GO BANG! Magazine: What are some of your fondest memories that you had with your dad? who was there to have the chance to say they were friends with “Bernie Mac’s daughter.” So many wanted to be around me, but it was hard to know who was really there for me vs. The challenges involved having to work hard to remain grounded in a sea of people who would exalt or punish me in a blink of an eye. And his success provided great perks-no longer having to worry about money, opportunities for travel, meeting famous people. The obvious advantages were that I got to witness my dad achieve the success he always dreamed of. It was weird and truthfully, it still is. It was either I was doing too much, or I wasn’t doing enough. Suddenly people hated me because I was Bernie Mac’s daughter. Keep in mind, we still didn’t have money and I was wearing the same clothes they were teasing me about. I literally went from being teased and bullied one school year because I didn’t have enough money to dress well in others’ eyes, to being lauded for being best dressed the next year. It was like I wasn’t allowed to have an identity separate from him. I wasn’t just Je’Niece, but this this extension of my dad. While he was simply Daddy to me, he was this larger-than-life thing to others. Je’Niece McCullough: My dad becoming famous was surreal. GO BANG! Magazine: As you got older, your father Bernie Mac, began to get famous as the legendary comedian we all know and love? How did his fame affect you and your personal life growing up? What were some of the challenges and advantages? I always admired how sure he seemed of himself because that was the complete antithesis of how I was. I looked up to him, and not because of his fame, but because he was a superhero in my eyes, and I desperately wanted his love and approval. My dad was the closest thing I had to one. Je’Niece McCullough: I don’t have a role model. GO BANG! Magazine: Do you have a role model, or someone that you look up to or who inspires you? If so, who would that be? I remember everything being a big deal and I was usually left wondering why things were so difficult when it seemed like they could have been much simpler. I was more concerned with making sure the adults around me were ok-which they never seemed to be. It’s probably easy for me to have difficulty describing my childhood because I was so disconnected from myself as a kid. There were good times, not so good times, and just about everything in between. Je’Niece McCullough: Hmm…I’m not sure I have a descriptor. GO BANG! Magazine: How would you describe your childhood and teen years? Je’Niece McCullough: I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. GO BANG! Magazine: Where were you born and raised? Je’Niece with her mother, father and a bride Je’Niece lives in the south suburbs of Chicago with her daughter, Jasmine. She is a published author and has been featured in several publications, including Today’s Black Chicago Woman and Ebony magazine, as well as several collaboration books. Je’Niece has appeared on several news outlets, television shows, and documentaries. She has since stepped down as Vice-President of the foundation but continues to speak regularly on issues such as women’s empowerment, Sarcoidosis awareness, and overcoming depression. She has been a featured speaker for several events, including The Black Women’s Expo, Heart & Soul Women of Excellence Awards, and Everest College’s 2012 Commencement Program. While working for the foundation, she unlocked her hidden gift of speaking. They worked closely together until he died in 2008.Īfter her father’s death, Je’Niece began working as Vice-President of his foundation, The Bernie Mac Foundation. In 2005, she left the field and began working for her father as his assistant. She worked for several years in social service. Je’Niece is the only child of the late and legendary comedian Bernie Mac. All photos courtesy of Je’Niece McCullough & /Je’NieceMcCullough
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