Review of Finding Me by Viola Davis

This memoir is raw and truthful. It delves into the world of the very, very poor and unfortunate. Viola Davis brings hardship to life for readers. Then, she slowly brings the reader along into a world of fear and hard work that finally blossoms into success. Ms. Davis is the star in the series ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ but getting to that point in her life was an uphill battle. These days, people know her as ‘The Woman King’. 

All of her young life, Ms. Davis was a poster-child for the used and abused; a very dark- skinned black child who is put upon even by the lighter toned black children around her. Teachers and the other adults in her life mistreat her and she learns to believe that she is worthless. Until she finds her brain. She approaches acting through the back door of free government aid and is slowly transported from bumpkin to a rising star. Life was not easy or comfortable on her way up. She teaches perseverance in her memoir.  

This memoir opened my eyes to how difficult it is for anyone to enter the entertainment industry, especially if they are of a societal group not broadly represented on the media screens. Yes, this still happens in this day and age; do not kid yourself. Times are changing but not everything can be changed over-night. Ms. Davis digs deep into her feelings and experiences to make that message very clear in this memoir. 

Any reader will appreciate Ms. Davis candor and respect her  all the more for her honesty. We are all people of this earth and we must live like we know that and believe it. Ms. Davis makes that clear as well. The woman is a study in being a ‘powerhouse’ in life.