04/28/2021
Cicely Tyson’s memoir, Just as I Am, is must-read. It’s a history lesson of racism and sexism in America, a peek inside Hollywood movie making, a love story, a coming-of-age story and a story of spiritual awakening all rolled into one. Just as I Am is a worthy and POWERFUL read.
As a Black woman, I was intimately aware of importance of Cicely Tyson as a Black actress. Her portrayals as Jane Pittman, as a mother in Sounder, and as Kunta’s mother in Roots shaped my perceptions of Black history and my place in the world. Her talent was palpable.
But Cicely Tyson was so much more than a talented actress and role model.
She was an activist, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a spurned lover, a wife, a woman of faith, a vegetarian. She was scared at times, heart-broken, delighted and distraught. If nothing else, her story shows the depth of who she was as a woman. The vulnerability in her narrative is a gift.
Ms. Tyson was a national treasure and trailblazer for sure. She sported natural hair in a time when pressing was the norm. She only accepted roles that honored our ancestors even when those weren’t always lucrative. She was courageous and bold even when she was at her most fragile.
Her story had a profound impact on me. She taught me the power of pursuing your dreams and trusting your gut while still trusting God’s plan. She was a devoutly religious woman and spirituality is a continuous thread through her narrative. She showed through her life and through the telling of her story, that your life can open up in amazing ways. Each chapter is waiting to be written – regardless of how old you are.
I ordered the book shortly after her death earlier this year. (She died this January at the ripe old age of 97.) I also listened to it via Audible and highly recommend you do the same. Similar to Michelle Obama’s, Becoming, there is an intimacy born from hearing her story shared in her own voice. At some incredible juncture, Cicely Tyson transformed from a stranger to me to a wise, loving, and trust-worthy old friend. It felt as if she were my grandma or certainly a long-lost auntie...(read caption for the rest).