Viola Davis ‘Owns Her Story’ After Purchasing Plantation She Was Born On

Viola Davis celebrated her 55th birthday by purchasing the plantation she was born and raised on and where her family worked for many years. The plantation is located in Saint Matthews, South Carolina, and named the Singleton Plantation.

Davis shared a photo of the home she was born in on the plantation with the caption, “the above is the house where I was born August 11, 1965. It is the birthplace of my story. Today on my 55th year of life… I own it… all of it.” Below the caption, Davis included a quote from a Cherokee Birth Blessing, “May you live long enough to know why you were born.”

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The purchase of the plantation is Davis’ way of returning to her roots and to the place where she has many fond memories of her family gathering, despite it having a dark history.

In a previous interview with People, Davis shared some of the dark histories after reading a slave narrative who lived on the same plantation and the horrors that came with it. However, Davis also went on to share the story of when she was born with her entire family in the home, laughing, drinking and having fun.

By purchasing the plantation, Davis intends to continue looking back on the fond memories by honoring the slaves, including family members, who worked on the land and create new memories.