Cicely Tyson was a celebrated American actress and model, best known for her performance as Rebecca Morgan in Sounder. Despite coming from a society that ridiculed black women as ‘worthless,’ Tyson not just proved herself but also raised the bar. Unlike other actresses who accepted whatever roles came their way, Tyson was extremely choosy about her work. More than often, she flatly refused to do films, or take parts solely for the pay check. She was extremely selective about the roles she chose as she wanted to perform only those characters that had depth and meaning. As such, Tyson’s career trajectory wasn’t always a smooth one. She often struggled to find meaningful work. Tyson’s career was adorned with a string of successful acting projects, including The Help, The Trip to Bountiful, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Sounder, and Roots. Tyson received four Black Reel Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Tony Award, one Screen Actors Guild Award, a Peabody Award, and an honorary Academy Award.
