Just As I Am: A Memoir
In her compelling memoir "Just As I Am", legendary actress Cicely Tyson holds nothing back in sharing her remarkable life story. Over nearly 100 years of living, Tyson has seen immense changes in the world and her life and career. This memoir takes readers on a journey of Tyson's childhood in Harlem, her early aspirations of becoming a dancer, her breakthrough roles in acclaimed films and TV shows that helped expand representations of black people in media, and her personal relationships and world views developed over many decades in Hollywood.
“I suppose to be truly successful at any pursuit, you have to fall in love with it, surrender to its gravitational pull, allow it to carry you off to that world of giddy sleeplessness.”
Tyson is candid about facing racism and sexism as a black woman seeking opportunities in the entertainment industry in its early days of integration. She powerfully discusses educating ignorant casting directors and pushing past limitations others tried to impose on her due to prejudice, that she was told to downplay her age by a decade, which she did for decades until she turned 90. Her sheer grit and talent kept her striving for substantive roles that allowed her to showcase the full range of her abilities rather than stereotypical minor characters. Fans will appreciate her personal accounts of filming beloved works like "Sounder" and "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman", which shaped how generations viewed the black experience.
The memoir offers a rare, raw glimpse into Tyson’s personal life and philosophy through the immense changes she's witnessed throughout her career. While the book understandably slows in places due to its comprehensive scope, Burford's charismatic storytelling keeps the pages turning. It’s a moving testimony to one woman's strength and courage and her meaningful contributions to representing black women with dignity and humanity on the global stage.
Sadly, Tyson passed away at the ripe old age of 96, two days after the memoir was published with a resounding success, but her legacy shall live on in the hearts of many.
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