The actress Viola Davis made history for becoming the first African-American actress to win an Emmy in the best drama actress category. On the ceremony, she gave a polemical speech. Read the excerpt below and answer the following activity.
Viola Davis’s Emmy Speech
‘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.’
That was Harriet Tubman in the 1800s. And let me tell you something: The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.
You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here’s to all the writers, the awesome people that are Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes, people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.
And to the Taraji 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. Thank you to the Television Academy. Thank you.
(Extracted from URL <http://www.nytimes.com/live/emmys-2015/viola-daviss-emotional-emmys-acceptance-speech/>. Retrived on February 09, 2016.)
Based on Davis’s speech, what alternative best describes the purpose of her speech:
Viola Davis draws attention to the lack of diversity and racial bias established in the Hollywood film industry.
Viola Davis congratulates the African American actresses that had no opportunity before her.
Viola Davis complains about the writers who exclude black women from the movie industry.
Viola Davis criticizes the white women who are privileged by institutionalized racism present in the film industry.
Viola Davis encourages black women to redefine conceptions on beauty and race.