Actresses Viola Davis and Cicely Tyson -
Juan Rico / FAMEFLYNET / VISUAL PRESS AGENCY
Cicely Tyson, who passed away yesterday, was a pioneer.
In the seven decades she worked, the actress had established herself as one of the first African American stars to choose her roles, preferring to refuse to star in films if she couldn't portray strong, positive characters.
At the announcement of her death on Thursday, tributes began to flow for this legendary actress.
Starting with Viola Davis, who played her daughter in the
How to Get Away with Murder series
.
“I am devastated.
My heart is broken.
I loved you so much.
You made me feel loved and important in a world where there is still an invisibility cloak on dark-skinned women like us.
You gave me permission to dream, because it was only in my dreams that I saw all the possibilities, ”said the actress in the caption of a photo posted on Instagram.
A giant
Former US President Barack Obama, who awarded the Medal of Freedom to the actress in 2016, also cracked a moving message for what he describes as a "giant".
“When Cicely Tyson was born, the doctors thought she wouldn't live beyond three months due to a heart murmur.
But what they didn't know was that Cicely's heart was different from everyone else.
It was the kind of heart that would not only beat for 96 years, but also leave an indelible mark.
At a time when roles for actresses who looked like her weren't easy to get, she refused to accept those that reduced black women to their gender or the color of their skin, ”he wrote. .
Michelle Obama, for her part, praised the humanity of the actress of
The Color of Sentiments
.
Cicely Tyson had released her memoir,
Just as I Am: A Memoir
, two days before her death.
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