Finding Me: A Memoir

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences. 

1. Viola Davis candidly shares her experiences with poverty, racism, and self-doubt. Was there a particular moment in her story that evoked a strong emotional response for you? Why did it resonate?

2. Throughout the memoir, Davis describes how she struggled with self-acceptance, particularly in an industry that often devalues Black women. Have you ever felt pressure to conform to societal expectations? How did you navigate it?

3. Davis credits certain mentors and figures in her life with helping her find confidence and strength. Have you had a mentor or support system that has played a similar role in shaping your journey? If so, how?

4. The book explores the idea of “finding” oneself through confronting pain and embracing personal truth. Did this idea of facing your past or struggles resonate with you? 

5. Throughout Finding Me, Davis redefines success to encompass not only achievement but also self-acceptance and fulfillment. How do you define success in your own life, and has reading Davis’s story influenced that perspective?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Viola Davis’s memoir highlights the systemic barriers that Black actors, especially Black women, face in Hollywood. How does her experience reflect broader conversations about race, representation, and diversity in the entertainment industry today? Do you think the industry has changed since Davis first began her career?

2. Davis grew up in deep poverty, facing racism and exclusion in a predominantly white community. How does her story reflect larger societal issues related to economic inequality and racial discrimination? Do you see similar patterns in your own society or in contemporary discussions about race and class?

3. Throughout Finding Me, Davis challenges conventional beauty standards and the expectations placed on women, particularly women of color. How does her story contribute to broader cultural conversations about self-image, representation, and the redefining of beauty in media and society?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The book moves between past and present, reflecting on Davis’s childhood trauma, career struggles, and eventual success. How does this nonlinear structure shape your understanding of her journey? Would a more traditional chronological approach have been as effective?

2. Davis frequently describes her younger self in vivid, almost cinematic detail—her emotions, her environment, her hardships. How does this use of imagery contribute to the memoir’s emotional depth? Are there particular passages that stood out to you?

3. The title of Finding Me suggests a process of self-discovery. How does Davis develop this theme over the course of the book? What turning points in her life best illustrate her journey toward embracing her true self?

4. Throughout the memoir, Davis revisits specific moments of pain and struggle, such as her experiences with bullying, poverty, and rejection. How do these moments serve as recurring motifs, and how do they shape her resilience and personal growth?