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.
I just want different narratives for people of color, especially women of color. I just want something that's different. I don't want us to be put in a box. I want it to be kind of a redefinition of who were are. If I can even achieve that in a tiny way, I'll be good. I'll be good.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Viola Davis desires diverse representations of people of color, particularly women, to break free from stereotypes.
In this quote, Viola Davis expresses her longing for varied narratives that reflect the richness and complexity of people's experiences, particularly for women of color. She emphasizes the importance of moving beyond stereotypical portrayals and aims for a redefinition of identity that allows for a broader understanding of who they are. Her aspiration to contribute to this change, even in a small way, highlights her commitment to authentic representation and empowerment.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire discussions on the importance of representation in film and media.
More from Viola Davis
All quotes →What excites me is just taking some time to breathe in life. The mundane is very exciting.
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.
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.
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.
There's no prerequisites to worthiness. You're born worthy, and I think that's a message a lot of women need to hear.
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My father was a taxidermist, not a run-of-the-mill profession for a West Indian immigrant. Having given up on becoming a vet, he settled for working with dead animals rather than live ones. Dad was a true craftsman, an artist.