Thank God for Viola Davis

 

Viola Davis' heartbreaking memoir discusses what it was like for her to grow up as a dark skinned Black girl with full features. Due to racism, colorism, featurism and texturism, women who look like Viola are less likely to be the love interest in movies, TV shows and music videos. When Viola was cast as Annalise Keating in 'How to Get Away with Murder' she found out that a group of Black actors had said that she wasn't attractive enough to play the role. Viola proved them wrong when she made history by becoming the first Black woman to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Annalise Keating. While accepting the award, Viola explained that it was impossible to 'win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there'. She went on to thank all of the writers and people 'who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.'

Thank God for Viola Davis.