--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let me tell you something: The only thing…" description: "\"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 simp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/viola-davis-1174_african-american-wom_let-me-tell-you-something-the-only-thing_2768258.png" --- # Let me tell you something: The only thing that separates… ![“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.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/viola-davis-1174_african-american-wom_let-me-tell-you-something-the-only-thing_2768258.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/viola-davis-1174_african-american-wom_let-me-tell-you-something-the-only-thing_2768258.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/viola-davis-1174_african-american-wom_let-me-tell-you-something-the-only-thing_2768258.png) > “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.” [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opportunity is the primary barrier for women of color in entertainment, not talent. **In simple terms:** Lack of chances blocks success. Key Takeaway Create more roles for underrepresented groups. Themes equality representation career opportunity industry gender race Mood determined hopeful Type social inspirational When to use this quote - Casting decisions - industry hiring - award nominations - career planning Key Concepts Systemic bias accessibility media representation Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions ensure equitable casting? - What policies can increase representation? A Different Perspective Even with opportunity, systemic bias may persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american-women/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Emmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emmy/) [Emmys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emmys/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/you-cannot-win-an-emmy-for-roles-that-are-simply-not-there/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/the-only-thing-that-separates-women-of-color-from-everyone-else-is/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [Listen, I would love to win an Emmy at some stage or another. I can't pretend not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/listen-i-would-love-to-win-an-emmy-at-some-stage-or-another-i-can-t/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [What it meant for me to win the Emmy is I found it. It's not just the award. It's what it's going to mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/what-it-meant-for-me-to-win-the-emmy-is-i-found-it-it-s-not-just-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [“Remember that this is what separates the women from the girls. If you want to be great, this is the challenge. If you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/remember-that-this-is-what-separates-the-women-from-the-girls-if-you/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [That's one thing I find about having children - it does unlock a door that separates you from other women who've had children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-miller/that-s-one-thing-i-find-about-having-children-it-does-unlock-a-door/) [Rebecca Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-miller/) > [You don't have the opportunity to win an Emmy unless you're given the opportunity to play certain kinds of roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/you-don-t-have-the-opportunity-to-win-an-emmy-unless-you-re-given-the/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful, white women with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/in-my-mind-i-see-a-line-and-over-that-line-i-see-green-fields-and/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [Someone said I wasn't attractive enough. People say those things, but they make you stronger. Then you can win an Emmy and think, ha,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/someone-said-i-wasn-t-attractive-enough-people-say-those-things-but/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [ I just hope this \[Emmy\] is now a part of the status quo that women of color are included in the narratives that continue… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-just-hope-this-emmy-is-now-a-part-of-the-status-quo-that-women-of/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was so grateful to win an Emmy, but just being nominated, it's not overrated!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/i-was-so-grateful-to-win-an-emmy-but-just-being-nominated-it-s-not/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [I think that you do get a little extra jolt of confidence when you win an Emmy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-falco/i-think-that-you-do-get-a-little-extra-jolt-of-confidence-when-you/) [Edie Falco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-falco/) > [Facebook should win an Emmy for Best Daytime dramas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/facebook-should-win-an-emmy-for-best-daytime-dramas/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [I really wish women of color would come together more and stand up for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skai-jackson/i-really-wish-women-of-color-would-come-together-more-and-stand-up/) [Skai Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skai-jackson/) > [It still amazes and fascinates me that women of color have kept my work alive for these many generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/it-still-amazes-and-fascinates-me-that-women-of-color-have-kept-my/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) ## More by Viola Davis > [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) [Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## More African american women quotes > [“Pick that chin up and adjust your crown, Queen! Life has its disappointments and challenges, but you’ve got faith, strength, perseverance, and resilience inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/pick-that-chin-up-and-adjust-your-crown-queen-life-has-its/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [Since Bush has been in office, African-American women have fallen behind in terms of income and wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/since-bush-has-been-in-office-african-american-women-have-fallen/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [All of my history as an African-American woman, as a Jewish woman, as a Muslim woman. I'm bringing everything I ever knew, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/all-of-my-history-as-an-african-american-woman-as-a-jewish-woman-as-a/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/african-american-women-in-particular-have-incredible-buying-power/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [“Melanin is an incomparable beauty. From the lightest to the darkest skin tone, Black women and Black girls are exquisite beauty in every shade.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/melanin-is-an-incomparable-beauty-from-the-lightest-to-the-darkest/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [It's important for women to understand that it's bad enough that we don't make dollar-for-dollar what men do, but when you distill that down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/it-s-important-for-women-to-understand-that-it-s-bad-enough-that-we/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) Fannie Barrier Williams > [Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/never-be-limited-by-other-people-s-limited-imaginations/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Design the life you want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/design-the-life-you-want-to-live/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [“I’m a Queen. My Black is Exquisite Beauty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/i-m-a-queen-my-black-is-exquisite-beauty/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [... not all black women have silently acquiesced in sexism and misogyny within the African-American community. Indeed, many writers, activists, and other women have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/not-all-black-women-have-silently-acquiesced-in-sexism-and-misogyny/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [“She is Black Girl Excellence. She is Me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/she-is-black-girl-excellence-she-is-me/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [I was very proud and grateful to be the first African-American woman in the position. I thought it said a lot about our country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-was-very-proud-and-grateful-to-be-the-first-african-american-woman/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/the-only-thing-that-separates-women-of-color-from-everyone-else-is/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [... black women have always found that in the social order of things we're the least likely to be believed--by anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joycelyn-elders/black-women-have-always-found-that-in-the-social-order-of-things-we/) [Joycelyn Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joycelyn-elders/) [Browse all 70 African american women quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american-women/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let me tell you something: The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. 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