Viola Davis has established herself on the hit drama, “How to Get Away with Murder” as a fierce leading woman. She was highlighted for her work when being the first black woman to ever win the Emmy title best leading woman in a drama, when accepting her honorable award she gave a speech that touched the heart of many Americans and hit close to home for many black women. She went to explain the hardships of finding leading roles as an African-American actress in a harsh industry. When accepting her Emmy award Viola Davis executed her persuasive speech beautifully by offering imagery, and pathos to compel the hearts of America to see the inequality in the industry changing the audience’s perspective on the opportunities provided for black women. …show more content…
She then persuades the viewers to feel the same gratitude to those who have made efforts to even the playing field, and to recognize the beautiful women that have shown the world what women of color have to offer. Davis begins her speech with a famous quote of Harriet Tubman, “In my mind, I see a line.
And over that line I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line. But I can't seem to get there no how. I can't seem to get over that line.” Davis uses Aristotle’s means of pathos, to help her appeal to the audience’s emotions. She does this by providing an image in the crowds mind of women welcoming each other meeting in this beautiful place associated with equality. However, she clearly sates that it is, “over this line” where she sees such beautiful acts emphasizing that although it is in reach we are not there yet. The vivid words of Tubman offer imagery helping people picture beauty and feel the pain of someone on the outside looking in. The fact that she used a quote from one of the most important black activists offers ethos to her argument. She gains more attention based on the credibility of Harriet Tubman adding to the ethos of her speech by associating such an idolized woman to her struggle. Although not as compelling of a figure as Harriet Tubman, Viola Davis offers her own credibility when explaining the issues of the industry for black women not only as an actress, but also as woman of color with years of experience in fight for the lead she now
has. Viola takes the time to thank many show writers especially Shonda Rhimes, for her efforts in creating leading roles for black women for some of the nations most popular shows such as Scandalous, Greys Anatomy, and of course How to Get Away with Murder. Her gratitude influences the audience to understand there is a struggle for African-American women in the industry however there are few writers who have acknowledged this issue and done their part to secure these women a fair chance to shine. She goes on to describe them as people, “who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.” Davis uses words such as redefined” to share with the world the new image that these writers have offered as black women have been restrained. Davis stresses at the fact that black woman have struggled to obtain leading roles because they were not the ideal definition of beauty typically seen by network heads and common viewers. When sharing that these writers have redefined what it is to be black she opens the audience’s eyes to see that they are not who society has portrayed them to be, that being a minority does not make you the inferiority and that is the beauty of these shows as well as the opportunities that actresses have been given. They have been given the opportunity to be fierce, demanding, intelligent, beautiful, and most importantly black. For the audience members familiar with Shonda Rhimes show, How to Get Away with Murder they have come to love Viola Davis’s character Annalise Keating, a top notch lawyer in control owning every case with brilliance and demanding every student. She shows the world the perfect image of a strong independent black woman. Although much credit is due to the creators, Victoria Davis takes time to credit the beautiful women of color who have risen to the top, executing their roles exceptionally. These are the women set out for the world to see, the ones that embody the beautiful picture Harriet Tubman vividly painted for us. Viola Davis recognizes many women and their parts in the changing industry as she addresses, “the Tarji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goods. To Gabrielle Union. Thank you for taking us over that line.” These are the familiar faces of African American women currently filling leading roles and changing the perceptions of what it means to be a black woman. Viola Davis’s speech uses pathos to appeal to the audience’s emotions but more specifically their compassion for human kind and the justice of equality. She broadens peoples understanding of the struggles being faced in the industry persuading us to feel as though we have a responsibility to humanity to ensure that everyone including minority actresses are seen equal to other actresses. She then shares gratitude for those who have done their part to make a change and those who are now the face of this change. This persuades the audience to look for guidance in the role models of writers and actresses working hard to bring diversity to networks in order to understand and support the change. Her speech was so persuasive because in addition to the issues she argues, she accepts an award given to a black actress for the first time in history adding to the moment and showing the audience that the industry is capable of changing.
In his work “Escape and Revolt in Black and White,” James M. McPherson discusses the lives of now famous black and white defenders of the black population and how society’s views of these individuals changed over time. The majority of his essay focused on the stories of Harriet Tubman, Harriet Jacobs, and John Brown, each of whom impacted their own immediate surroundings, even if only on a small scale, in an attempt to improve the condition of blacks. He investigates whether these now famous individuals became famous due to their own merits or as another piece of propaganda to support either side of the fight over civil rights. However, this overall point was very unclear and jumbled as he focused too heavily on just his narrative of these
The black women’s interaction with her oppressive environment during Revolutionary period or the antebellum America was the only way of her survival. Playing her role, and being part of her community that is not always pleasant takes a lot of courage, and optimism for better tomorrow. The autonomy of a slave women still existed even if most of her natural rights were taken. As opposed to her counterparts
In The Murder of Helen Jewett, Patricia Cohen uses one of the most trivial murders during the 1800’s to illustrate the sexiest society accommodations to the privileged, hypocritical tunneled views toward sexual behavior, and the exploitation of legal codes, use of tabloid journalism, and politics. Taking the fact that woman was made from taking a rib from man was more than biblical knowledge, but incorporated into the male belief that a woman’s place is determined by the man. Helen had the proper rearing a maid servant, but how did she fall so far from grace. Judge Weston properly takes credit for rearing her with the proper strictness and education. Was Helen seduced at an early age and introduced to sexual perversions that were more persuasive that the bible belt life that the Weston’s tried to live? Was Helen simply a woman who knew how to use what she had to get what she wanted? Through personal correspondence, legal documentation, census reports, paintings, and newspapers we are able to make our own determinations. Cohen provides more than enough background and history to allow any one to make their own opinion how the murder of a woman could be turned into a side show at a circus.
Elsa Barkley Brown focuses on the intersectionality of being a black woman in America, in “What Has Happened Here?”. Black women experience different forms of oppression simultaneously. Indeed, racism, sexism, classism, as well as heterosexism, intertwine and form layers of oppression.
Seymour Wishman was a former defense lawyer and prosecutor, and the author of "Anatomy of a Jury," the novel "Nothing Personal" and a memoir "Confessions of a Criminal Lawyer." "Anatomy of a Jury" is Seymour Wishman's third book about the criminal justice system and those who participate in it. He is a known writer and very highly respected "person of the law." Many believe that the purpose of this book is to put you in the shoes of not only the defendant but into the shoes of the prosecutor, the judge, the defense lawyer and above all the jury. He did not want to prove a point to anyone or set out a specific message. He simply wanted to show and explain to his readers how the jury system really works. Instead of writing a book solely on the facts on how a jury system works, Wishman decides to include a story so it is easier and more interesting for his readers to follow along with.
A person’s socioeconomic status plays a major role in how a crime is investigated. Socioeconomic status is the social standing of an individual or group, which is calculated by the factors of income, education, and occupation. When it comes to the criminal justice system, your status determines whether you go to jail. Angela Davis, a law professor at American University in Washington, D.C., states that “most of the people in the criminal justice system are poor, regardless of race” in reference to how income and race reflect the outcome of criminal convictions. In the documentary, Making a Murderer, it appears Steven Avery was targeted by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s department. Furthermore, the department only focuses on Avery and never
After watching Imitation of Life, it becomes quite clear that the race and gender of a person affects them gravely. These intersectional forms of oppression help to determine how society will treat a person, and how a person may treat/view themselves. Debuting in 1959, issues displayed within this film are still present within society in 2015. As woman are discriminated against, so are Black people, and while being a White woman in a patriarchal society holds some restrictions and privileges, being a Black woman in an racist patriarchal society welcomes constant hardships of struggles. Both within this film and in reality, issues concerning the way both White and Black women are treated and the roles they are allowed to play on screen (during
hile having a strange motive. People that crazy can 't be trusted in our society especially when they 're committing crimes such as this one.
Beale, Frances. "Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female." An Anthology of African-American Feminist Thought. New York: New, 1995. 146. Print.
middle of paper ... ... ction Genre: Interview with Octavia Butler." Black Scholar. 1986 Mar.-Apr., 17:2. 14-18.
In the article, Rape, Racism, and the Myth of the Black Rapist, the author, Angela Davis, discusses on the creation of the myth of the black rapist. This article brings two main ideas together to in order to make a valid argument to why both claims are false and hold no legitimacy. Davis argues that one was created in order to cover up for the other I order to veil the true offenders of sexual abuse. Davis also elaborates on the issue by adding to the argument and stating that white women are also being affected by these myths in a negative way because of the women’s bodies are being perceived as a right.
Since the beginning, the United States` government, racial slavery had conquered various American identities. “Racism sprung early colonial times due the slavery riot incidence misinterpretations, leading full men, women, and children racial slavery of all different ethnic backgrounds” (Hooker 1). African-Americans held a life long work and Caribbean island shipment originating and affective progression to American colonies. “An importation of 4,000,000 Negroes were held in bondage by Southern planters” (Webstine).Advanced time went, and Northern states nurtured a rapid industrial revolution; Factory introduction, machines, and hired workers replaced any agricultural need of existing slaves. Southern states, however, maintained their original work, continuing the previous circular agricultural system. This suited the firm economic foundation of United States government. However, even continuing economic growth, some Americans still recognized moral rights. The moving disagreement era, America’s Antebellum period grew a deep internal struggle within the American society’s families. “Abolitionists, anti-racial discrimination groups, demanded an end to dehumanized labor treatment in the Southern states” (James 94). However, during this time, women discrimination was also another hot topic taking place. These movements pursued, and women joined numerous groups, and became more society perceived, standing with the thousands African-Americans, immigration workers, and women’s rights, demanding their societal rights. One particular woman advocating her own level in society, gender, race, and all, bringing her standing beliefs was Sojourner Truth. A former run away slave, Sojourner Truth, who originally contemplated no Ameri...
I chose to do this research paper on Angela Davis because of her numerous contributions to the advancements of civil rights as well as to the women’s rights movement. I have passionate beliefs regarding the oppression of women and people of racial minorities. I sought to learn from Davis’ ideology and proposed solutions to these conflicts that pervade our society. As well, I hoped to gain historical insight into her life and the civil rights movement of the 1960’s and 70’s. I believe this research paper to be a way to honor Davis for her efforts toward furthering justice for all people, no matter their sex or race.
She also feels that Harriet Tubman is a prime example of a strong African American woman. In this biography, author, Catherine Clinton gives an accurate take regarding the conditions for slaves in Eastern Shore, Maryland. Her description of the conditions empower readers to construe how Harriet Tubman more than likely lived in her early years. This is a fascinating, elegantly composed early account that will equip readers with a realistic insight around the life of an African American saint. There are many good points throughout this biography. The authors’ point about Harriet Tubman being brave is confirmed by evidence in which she detailed. Case in point, voyaging on numerous occasions from the South toward the North by way of the Underground Railroad was considered exceptionally strong evidence of bravery. This biography furthered confirmed my positive view of Harriet Tubman. It also provided me with new insight of the struggles that Harriet Tubman encountered. For instance, I was able to learn that her original name was Arminata Ross and she was forced to change her name to Harriet in order to maintain a false
The Emmy Award is a well respected representation of excellence that is rewarded to the year's most outstanding group of talent, in the form of an award show. This year, The Emmy's was host to one of the most talked about acceptances speeches from select acts. One of these inspirational speeches that has been receiving attention was from Viola Davis, an African American actress who stars in a hit TV drama , "How To Get Away With Murder." Out of a total of six nominees, Viola Davis won the Emmy for Leading Actress In A Drama Series. I personally didn’t watch the Emmy Awards, however after hearing about the acceptance speeches, I turned to YouTube.