In sophomore year, Viola found her courage, decided to be a theater major and was on her way career-wise. Overall, recommended to those who are interested in memoirs about difficult families, the lives of those who work in the arts, or Viola Davis fans! To the lioness hard working kick ass, talented, determined, authentic powerhouse inspiring human being….

From the extreme poverty, the intense physical and sexual abuse, and all the way to Hollywood, Viola paints a perfect image to show you and let you understand her life. The term Jim Crow originated from a minstrel show in 1828 which was projecting African Americans negatively. She wants to connect and communicate to the reader what’s it’s like to come from poverty, to live in fear, to fight for your life. Davis is also the founder and CEO of JuVee Productions, an artist-driven production company that develops and produces in- dependent film, theatre, television, and digital content. So finding out she would be gifting us with a deep memoir of her childhood to her present day life was amazing.Following her gap year, during which Viola became a "professional actress", she went on to Juilliard School in New York City. Overall, Viola is such a strong woman, but she also shares her struggles and vulnerabilities, and how she made it to this point of stability, peace and understanding.

But to keep ourselves on our toes, we have a rule that author gender is alternated, girl-boy-girl-boy, and the continents always rotated (with occasional glitches). For anyone who needs reminding that a life worth living can only be born from radical honesty and the courage to shed facades and be…you.I cried reading about Viola's childhood and the way her trauma shaped her into the woman she is today. Rat invested and pissed soaked beds, emotional and physical abuse, surrounded by and even experiencing sexual abuse, all while growing up as a Black girl in a predominately white area. Viola is as unwavering with the recollection of her own pain and trauma as she is wholehearted with the reminiscence of her hope and healing.