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Caribbean L 12 ife, FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021
During Black History Month
all hail The Queen
Cicely Tyson with freelancer Vinette K. Pryce at the United Nations. Source:
Vinette K. Pryce
By Vinette K. Pryce
New Yorkers are particularly
aggrieved by
the passing of actress
Cicely Tyson on Jan.
28.
Beloved in her birthplace
of the Village of
Harlem the Bronx and
all the boroughs for her
deliberate choice portrayals
of Black characters,
the 96-year-old
thespian kwas revered
royalty of stage and
screen – New York’s
drama queen.
The sad news of her
death followed similar
announcements of
celebrities — broadcaster
Larry King and
actress Cloris Leachman.
Revered for stellar
onscreen performances
she delivered in “Roots,”
“Sounder,” “The Diary
of Miss Jean Pittman,”
and so many outstanding
works, those of us
who reside in New York
City may have reflections
of seeing the Harlem
resident on Broadway.
Yours truly has been
fortunate to see her on
the Great White Way on
numerous occasions.
Nostalgia recalls her in
2013 when at age 88 she
wowed sold out patrons
in “The Trip to Bountiful.”
My mother was exalted
by her abounding
energy and grace.
Tyson won a Tony
Award for her portrayal
of the role.
In 2015 I saw her
again co-starring with
James Earl Jones in
August Wilson’s “Gin
Games” in 2010.
(It was a two-fer
attraction for me as Wilson
wins in the category
of best playwrights).
It’s still a mystery how
at age 90 she was able
to maneuver the intricacies
associated with
the production much
less recall those long
speeches she nightly
recited with two added
matinees each week —
without once missing a
curtain call.
That she was married
to jazz musician Miles
Davis always seemed
alluring.
But most pleasing to
me though was watching
from a distance,
her routine visits to the
Union Square farmer’s
market on a Saturday.
It is one of my weekend
rituals, and each
time I saw her it was
added pleasure watching
the star not only
inspecting her organic
purchases but like any
ordinary keen purchaser
admired how she
blended in with shoppers
looking for quality
bargains.
After recognizing her
on a first occasion, I
realized she preferred
anonymity and unpretentiously
desired the
ambiguity New York
provides. Since then I
always respected the
privacy she sought.
It’s ironic her memoir
“Just As I Am” was
due for release in hours
of her exit.
Memories of the dignity
she exemplified will
be indelible.
Also notable is her
comments to 22-yearold
poet Amanda Gorman
on her reading at
the Jan. 20 inauguration
of President Joe
Biden.
“Your words remind
us that we will rise,
rebuild, reconcile and
recover.
Thank you for your
words and light.”
Back at you, Ms.
Tyson, you are the Caribbean
queen a shining
star from Nevis.
You brightened the
stage and sphere and
ruled with majesty.
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