Viola Davis Explains Why She’s Afraid of Letting Down Black Women

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Viola Davis admits that she’s really afraid of letting down black women by showing her vulnerabilities while she has such an amazing platform.

She says:

“I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There’d be 8 or 10 boys, I would count them as I was running. They’d pick up stones and sticks from the side of the road and yell, “Ugly black n*gger!” Always those three words: “ugly black n*gger.” Will Smith said: “There’s always one incident that defines you. I will always be the kid whose girlfriend broke up with him when I was 15.” And I am always that 8-year-old girl, running and running and running. I wore a mask because I didn’t want to show them that they hurt me. And I still do. I feel like the voice for all women of color sometimes. I don’t want to let them down. Let them see I don’t always feel attractive or strong.”