In her whole life Mom never earned more than five or six dollars a week. Being without a husband, it was hard for her to find any place at all for us to live. – Ethel Waters
I had always loved John Fords pictures. And I came to love him, too, but I was frightened to death working for him. He used the shock treatment while directing me. – Ethel Waters
Elia Kazan understood my problems. He was able to bring out the very best in me. He gave me credit for my intelligence. – Ethel Waters
We never had a bathtub. Mom would bathe me in the wooden or tin washtub in the kitchen, or in a big lard can. – Ethel Waters
When youre adopted, no matter what, youve got issues with unconditional love. And you find out youre the product of the worst situation for a young girl to be in and start her life, and Im so grateful that my birth mom made the decision she made. She came from a rough situation. – Rodney Atkins