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Viola Davis Remembers Being Called the N-Word More Times Than Her Own Name as a Child While Accepting HollyRod Foundation Honor

Kelly Rowland presented Davis with the Jacqueline Avant HollyRod Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic work at the 26th annual gathering Saturday.

Prior to Davis’ awards presentation, Robinson Peete spoke about the legacy of Jacqueline — the wife of former music executive Clarence Avant, who was shot and killed in her home at the age of 81 in 2021. Davis has also given back to her alma mater Central Falls High School and the local library in her hometown, demonstrating what she says is the answer to being born in a world where you don’t fit in. That people could get beyond my smell, beyond the poverty, beyond the fact that you thought my nappy hair and my big lips and my wide nose and my dark skin wasn’t pleasing to the eye.”

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