Actress and comedian Tisha Campbell made Sacramento the first stop on the tour for her new memoir, “The A Word: A Mother’s Journey Through Autism and Love.” On Sept. 9 she spoke at Underground Books with former Mayor Kevin Johnson about raising her eldest son, Xen, who was diagnosed with autism as a toddler.
Campbell learned of the diagnosis while filming the sitcom “My Wife and Kids.” She recalled collapsing in tears on set, then collecting herself and returning to work before she fully came to terms with a condition she, like many around her, knew little about at the time.
Accepting the Diagnosis, Rejecting the Stigma
“I accepted the diagnosis immediately,” she said, “but I didn’t accept the label.” The book’s title reflects those early days when some relatives struggled even to say the word “autism.” One person asked whether it was a “Hollywood disease.” Campbell noted that the word can still carry particular weight in Black communities.
She was firm about protecting Xen’s environment. When relatives ignored guidance from his therapists about routine, diet, or surroundings, she limited their access. “If you can’t even say the word or listen to what me or the therapist are telling you, you can’t have access to him,” she said.
From Stand-Up Stories to a Book
Campbell and Xen, now in his 20s, have shared pieces of their life on social media for years. The idea for a book grew after she began performing stand-up and weaving stories about him into her sets, always with his permission. Parents often approached her afterward looking for advice and resources. A longtime writing partner encouraged her to put the material into a book.
She wrote it herself, without a ghostwriter, drawing on notes she had kept for years on legal pads, Post-it notes, and scraps of paper. She signed with Amistad, HarperCollins’ imprint focused on African American voices, after declining publishers who wanted a more sensational celebrity story.
In Sacramento, she discussed motherhood and autism before closing the evening with a stand-up set for a packed audience of more than 200 people. Other tour stops include Detroit, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Oklahoma City. The book is available at Underground Books and major retailers.
Support for Families on Similar Paths
Raising an autistic child often means learning as you go, advocating firmly, and finding people who will listen. At Sacramento ABA Therapy, we are here to cover that exact gap. So in case you are searching for steady Autism help for your loved one, be it communication, daily skills, or simply clearer guidance on available options, you do not have to sort through everything alone. Call us or fill out the form on this page.
We will listen carefully and walk through what might be useful for your child and your family at a pace that feels manageable.
