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August Wilson is the one writer that writes about men like my father, who had a fifth grade education, who was a janitor at McDonald's.
Viola Davis
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the importance of representing the stories of ordinary people, particularly those who might be overlooked due to their educational background or profession.

Viola Davis expresses admiration for August Wilson, emphasizing that his writing captures the essence and struggles of common men, such as her father, who had limited education yet significant life experiences. This speaks to the broader theme of valuing diverse narratives and recognizing the dignity in all professions, particularly those often marginalized in literature and society.

Themes

EducationRepresentationFamilyNarrativeStorytelling

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion about the importance of diverse voices in literature.

More from Viola Davis

The more I'm pushed in a position of leadership and I know I have to be the mouthpiece for so many other people who can't speak for themselves, the more confidence I'm gaining.
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What excites me is just taking some time to breathe in life. The mundane is very exciting.
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I don't care if someone is new to acting or experienced in acting: you always learn something from them. It's just like people in life - whether they're young or middle-aged or old, you always learn something from someone.
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I don't see a lot of narratives written where a woman who looks like me gets to be beautiful and sexualized and upwardly mobile, middle-class, funny, quirky. They're very seldom written.
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And that's what people want to see when they go to the theater. I believe at the end of the day, they want to see themselves - parts of their lives they can recognize. And I feel if I can achieve that, it's pretty spectacular.
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There's no prerequisites to worthiness. You're born worthy, and I think that's a message a lot of women need to hear.
Viola DavisRead

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