VIDEO: Central Falls’ Viola Davis Urges RI Graduates to Pursue Significance More Than Success
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Davis, who was named as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People, has a special message for RI graduates this year.
“For those of you who may have missed Academy award, Emmy award and Tony award-winning Rhode Island treasure Viola Davis and her personal message to the RI graduating class of 2020 and to all of us, let me share it with you,” said Steve Feinberg with the Rhode Island Film and TV Office on Tuesday.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Uplifting, unbridled and unabridged.”
Davis’ Message
“You’re still a place I call home, as much as my career has taken me to New York, California. Rhode Island is where most of my memories were formed. Rhode Island is me,” said Davis.
“I’m hunkering down just like the rest of you,” she said. “I’m feeling very anxious, not only because we’re going into a place of new normal, and change — change comes with a lot of anxiety and chaos — but also because of the suffering that is out there. I feel the suffering of others...the gross inequity that is happening out there.”
Davis spoke to how despite being at the top of her field, she still found herself questioning her purpose.
“We all work for that big ’S’ — success — and as soon as we hit it we think this is going to be it,” said Davis. “But we forget that’s not the top. The top of where we really want to hit is significance.”
“It’s an opportunity to live a life of vision…and hope,” said Davis of the enormous change -- and uncertainty -- facing this year's graduating class. “At the end of the day, it’s what we give to humanity that becomes our legacy.”
“What’s your race, what’s your dash, what’s your baton you’re going to pass?”
Related Articles
- Viola Davis Wins First Oscar of her Career
- Viola Davis Named One of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People
- VIDEO: Happy Birthday to RI’s Viola Davis
- VIDEO: Viola Davis Accepts Sherry Lansing Leadership Award in LA
- Viola Davis Nominated for Academy Award - See Rest of Nominatons
- Viola Davis Wins Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in Motion Picture
- NEW: Viola Davis Wins Screen Actors Guild Award
- Rhode Island’s Davis, Jenkins Take Home Emmy Awards
- RI’s Davis, Rafaelian & Foulkes Named to Most Powerful Working Mother’s List
- New: Viola Davis Gives $1500 to Segue for MLK Day Murals
- NEW: Viola Davis Nominated as Entertainer of the Year by NAACP Image Awards
- Viola Davis’ Central Falls Upbringing Featured in AARP Magazine
- Street Named “Viola Davis Way” in Central Falls
