The racial segregation and black codes caused by these laws made it difficult for African Americans to access public transportation, schools, cast votes, and even gain economic independence. I have always thought Viola Davis is a wonderful actress but after having read this, I think she is a much better person than me - or at least a more forgiving one. I mean Viola had to deal with racist bullying from kids at school and when she was in grade school her teacher told her she would never be anything because she's Black.

Viola Davis teaches us how to tackle a situation that she considers the biggest discovery in her life. This is one of my most anticipated reads, ever, because I’m such a big fan of Viola Davis, and it quickly became one of my favorite memoirs, ever.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. There was also conversation about the treatment of theater versus film which I found to be extremely intriguing. This is not a memoir that traces a celebrity’s humble beginnings to their eventual success; this is a memoir of healing, of finally making peace with oneself. I was fighting an ideology about what an actor was, and it was all born in the depth of white superiority. I’m honored to learn more about one of my heroes and am utterly in awe of her journey that was gorgeously written, honest, and unforgettable.

Instead she simply tells the facts - the truth - the ugly stories — unapologetic stories from early childhood to present day.

Viola feared an entertainment career would not help her support herself, and she didn't want to live in poverty like her parents. Thus the Davis children reeked of urine, to the point where Viola's teacher whispered in her ear one day, "You need to tell your mother to get some soap and wash you! Throughout the memoir, she recounts specific scenes, conversations, and events so the book felt immersive rather than boring. She explores several relationships she has involving her family and how those relationships have changed and developed over the years and I just think she did a wonderful job detailing her childhood and how it has affected her later into her career. In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever.