The colorism she experienced in the acting world and how they tried to “mold and shape” her into the perfect “white” actor. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Nothing I experienced can even glimpse a moment in the Davis family life of poverty so extreme that it is almost unfathomable, of abuse, fear, guilt, and things I can't even put words to.

I think it’s always nice to see who public figures or stars are behind the image we create and this glimpse behind the image did not disappoint. This memoir really resonated with me and I was on the edge of my seat while listening to her life story and truth she found after finding her way out of the darkness. Never once did I think that she was unpretty or undesirable… but what I will say ISSSS that NO ONE ON THIS PLANET SLINGS SNOT LIKE LADY VIOLA DAVISSSSSS! I do not consume either on a large scale so I was unaware of the lack of respect for those that often did theater.My only regret- I have from listening to Viola read ‘this/her’ memoir so brilliantly—is that I wish I had been part of a small book group -having ongoing discussions—chapter by chapter. this was also my first audiobook, and i couldn’t have picked a better one to start with because viola’s performance was truly incredible. It’s no accident that Time Magazine named Viola Davis one of the 100 most influential people in the world. I honestly have no words- One simply must experience this memoir for themselves to truly appreciate it.

we were the baton they were passing as they were sinking into the quicksand of racism, poverty, Jim Crow, segregation, injustice, family trauma, and dysfunction. My hope is that my story will inspire you to light up your own life with creative expression and rediscover who you were before the world put a label on you. I feel we should be responsible to listen to her story with open ears and let it all resonate with us because what Viola has written here is so intense and important. This is the path I took to finding my purpose and my strength, but also to finding my voice in a world that didn’t always see me.Trying to fully understand her ‘entire’ life story and ‘how’ she survived unfathomable traumatic conditions—for years—as a child —is staggering…. Viola could have done well in many areas, but the acting bug bit her when she saw Cicely Tyson in 'The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.