Tyson, Cicely Louise
1924-2021 · Contribution: 1962-2018
Actress
Deliberately refused demeaning, stereotypical roles throughout the 1970s, accepting unemployment rather than play characters she considered characterless; earned an Academy Honorary Award in 2018 for a seven-decade career centering complex Black women
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Quick facts
- Born
- 1924
- Active since
- 1962
- Category
- Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
- Best known for
- Refused demeaning rolesAcademy Honorary AwardSeven-decade career
Impact on the world
Tyson used her career as a moral stand, accepting poverty rather than degrade herself or Black women on screen. Her choices redefined the roles available to Black actresses.
An alternative history
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Sources
- Source lookupFind
Women's History Museum
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