Cicely Tyson, who forged a path for scores of Black actors on Broadway and in Hollywood, has died.
Tyson was a force in entertainment for decades, but in her early years she had few role models because there were few people of color who were at the top of the Hollywood game.
She won 2 Emmys for Lead Actress in 1974, for “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.” The year before she was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar for the movie “Sounder.”
Tyson started her career as a model in NYC. She was on the covers of Ebony, Jet, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. Still, her mom was none too pleased, telling her she couldn’t live in the family house if she pursued entertainment. Her mom didn’t speak to her for several years.
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