Black Laurel Films

Cicely Tyson (December 19, 1924 January 28, 2021) passed away at 96 years of age and she was the American-born daughter of West Indian immigrants who redefined the role of Black women in film. With her indomitable spirit and limitless talent, she acted out stories about African American women that had been previously reduced to empty servitude roles or peripheral characters. Her beauty and femininity defied the long held colorism in casting and she boldly wore her hair in n...atural coifs and braids when Black actresses were expected to mimic white actresses --if they were to be considered at all. She became indelibly linked to her roles in "East Side/West Side," "Roots," "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," and other prominent roles. She was nominated for numerous Emmys and went on to win multiple awards, including Tony Awards for her stage roles. She was a proud mother, activist, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She overcame many hardships including a tumultuous marriage to jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. Ms. Tyson is also credited as being one of the founding members of the Dance Theater of Harlem, located in her beloved Harlem neighborhood in NYC. More information: https://variety.com//ne/cicely-tyson-dead-dies-1234895188/

I'm devastated. My heart is just broken. I loved you so much!! You were everything to me! You made me feel loved and seen and valued in a world where there is s...till a cloak of invisibility for us dark chocolate girls. You gave me permission to dream....because it was only in my dreams that I could see the possibilities in myself. I'm not ready for you to be my angel yet. But...I also understand that it's only when the last person who has a memory of you dies, that you'll truly be dead. In that case, you will be immortal. Thank you for shifting my life. Thank you for the long talks. Thank you for loving me. Rest well See more

Join the hair and makeup artists of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in the Variety Streaming Room presented by Netflix for an exclusive Q&A moderated by Variety’s Jazz Tangcay. Register today. https://bit.ly/39hGDNW