Cicely Tyson (1924–2021)

A very thorough and interesting autobiography. She had quite life and became quite the success despite her troubled upbringing. Kirkus: An acclaimed actor recounts her eventful career.In this highly anticipated and candid memoir (?plain and unvarnished, with the glitter and garland set aside?), Tyson (b.1924)�winner of three Emmys, a Tony, an honorary Oscar, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, among other honorsÂ¥ascribes her remarkable success to luck, grit, and the hand of God. She grew up in East Harlem, the daughter of West Indian parents whose marriage ended because of her father?s philandering. Her mother, a domineering presence in the young Cicely?s life, worked as a housekeeper. Irate when Cicely became pregnant at age 17, her mother insisted that she marry the child?s father. After two years, Tyson left her husband, patching together jobs to support herself and her daughter. A chance encounter set her on the path to modeling, which in turn led to an offer of a movie role. In 1972, she earned her first lead role, in SounderÂ¥and her first Oscar nomination. While on tour to promote the movie, Tyson became increasingly aware of bigotry and returned home with a new sense of purpose, ?saying to myself, Sister, you?ve got some educating to do.? She notes proudly that she became the first Black woman to star in a TV drama and ?the first black TV actress to reveal my hair in its bare-naked state.? Besides chronicling her work in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, A Woman Called Moses, and as Kunta Kinte?s mother in Roots, among other roles, Tyson lays bare the details of her tormented relationship with Miles Davis, an unrepentant womanizer and substance abuser. ?He had a strong need to be cared for,? writes the author, ?and that need intersected with my desire to provide care.? Tyson ascribes her longevity to an organic vegetarian diet and daily meditation, and she defends her reputation for being difficult: ?The truth is that I insist upon respect.Even now, at 96, I teach folks not to mess with me.?A forthright self-portrait of a determined woman and iconic cultural figure.… (más)

I give the book a strong 3 only because it's written well. Now...
Let me say that in my opinion Tyson sounds extremely narcissistic the entire book.
**Spoiler Alert**
- She never fails to mention how much she never watched her own movies but wants others to look up to her because of the roles she plays
- She completely dogs out Blaxploitation films but one of her good great best friends (as everyone she meets is in this book) is Bill Cosby... thought that was a strange selection for a book written in the 2020s as she also mentioned being sexually harassed in the industry
- The way she explains how on 3 separate occasions people on their deathbeds are only thinking of her -- like maybe Miles had a little something to say but the other 2 were wild - (1) a good girl friend wanted her to join a sorority as one of her final wishes, like why would that lady even be thinking about that while at deaths door and (2) a good guy friend she said "Even in his last weeks, he thought more of how his deterioration might impact me than he did of himself" she said some of this man's last words were "call Cicely" right before dying. she spent maybe 2 paragraphs on this then moved on to describe her Oscar ceremony dress. she spent more time telling us her diet on like 5 different occasions...
- The way she talked about beating up this white woman over Miles talkin bout the lady learned her lesson and then goes on to explain how the affair never ended... like girl
- It's weird that she bragged about all these god kids she has from all her famous friends but literally picked her career over raising her own daughter - like she said method acting or nothing at all because it was so important for the masses to see a good example on screen... all while being an absent mother
- the way she sent Mile's teenage nephew on the overseas comeback tour ALONE with him and justified it sent me
- the school situation in New Jersey was also strange
- and she also never failed to remind us that she didn't want to write this book… (más)