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Woman Crush Sunday(WCS) : Cicely Tyson

This is Cicely Tyson!.  I remember seeing her first in Roots in her role as Binta, Kinta Kinte's mother.  I would later see her other movies, Sounder and then Sweet Justice where she played the role of Carrie Grace Battle, the no-nonsense lawyer who runs a progressive law firm. Watching that movie got me nursing the ambition of becoming a lawyer!

Cicely was born in Harlem in 1924, to Caribbean immigrant parents, Frederica Tyson, a domestic worker, and William Augustine Tyson, who worked as a carpenter, painter, and at any other jobs he could find. Both her parents were born in Nevis, the sister island of St. Kitts.

Her father arrived in New York City at age 21 and was processed at Ellis Island on August 4, 1919.

Cicely Tyson was discovered by a photographer for Ebony magazine and became a popular fashion model before she became an actress.

 In 1963, she became the first Black actress to star in a television drama when she starred in the celebrated series East Side/West Side.

In her legendary career that spanned six decades, Tyson won three Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and an Academy Award. Her most celebrated work included “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman”, “Sounder”, “The Help” and the tv show, “How To Get Away With Murder”.

In 1997, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2016, she was awarded the United States’ highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Barack Obama. In 2020, she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

The legendary American actress died on January 28 at the age of 96. Her death was announced by her family, via her manager Larry Thompson, who did not provide additional details.

“With heavy heart, the family of Miss Cicely Tyson announces her peaceful transition this afternoon. At this time, please allow the family their privacy,” according to a statement issued through Thompson.

I am almost certain that she has found eternal peace. Following her life, I could tell she loved God and did her best living to please him. Sleep on trailblazer, you cleared the path for us!

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