At the age of ninety-six, actress Cicely Tyson (1924-2021) was able to look back on a journey which no one could have predicted. And when she passed on January 28, 2021, it was another reminder of the mortality which confronts us all. However, there is much to celebrate about her life which she recalls in this autobiography presented to us with the help of author Michelle Burford. The cover caught my attention and once I began, I could not put it down. 

Following a recap of the family’s origins in the small Caribbean nation of Nevis, the story moves to New York City where her parents William (1897-1961) and Fredricka Theodosia Tyson (1897-1974) raise three children in a section of Manhattan Island known as Harlem. Their story is an immigrant tale, and young Cicely soon learns the cruelty of racial discrimination and witnesses the turmoil brewing between her parents. Unbeknownst to her at the time, the actions of her father would come back to play a role in her own life many years later. Cicely, sister Emily (1926-1999), and brother Melrose (1922-1991) each find ways to cope with the strains of family life. The maturing Cicely proves to be the one with the most to learn, and meeting with a pastor’s son named Kenneth throws a curve ball into the story that I did not see coming. And it forces Cicely to evolve from a teenage schoolgirl to an adult very quickly. 

Life becomes complicated for Cicely but eventually stabilizes for her and daughter Joan whom she adores. There are the typical worries about finances, security, and long-term goals. But an unexpected opportunity arises when she decides to answer a call for potential models. One thing leads to the next, and she catches the eye of someone who has connections in the film industry. However, Cicely is skeptical and does not see herself as a Hollywood talent. But she soon comes to terms with it and this quote from her stayed with me long after finishing the book: 

“My mother understood what I didn’t yet at the time, that there’s a path in this life with your name on it. What God means for you to have, no one can take away from you. It’s already yours. Our mission, as God’s children, is to surrender to what he has ordained—and to freely let all else just pass us by.”

As her Hollywood career takes off and the accolades come in, the story changes gears again with the entry of jazz musician Miles Dewey Davis, III (1926-1991). Readers familiar with Davis’s story will know it was beyond wild, but Tyson provides an interesting firsthand account of his battles with substance abuse which Miles himself discussed in his autobiography written with Quincy Troupe. Their story is an unusual account, and their romance did not develop instantly. In fact, Davis was with someone else when they first met. But fate had its own plans, and they would reconnect, find true love with each other, and walk down the aisle to exchange wedding vows. But behind the public image of the sharply dressed power couple, there were dark times due to Davis’s destructive lifestyle. The incidents which occur are surreal but highlight the seriousness of Davis’s condition. Their marriage was a roller coaster ride, and even after separating they remained closed. Tyson comments on an attempt by Miles to reconcile later in life as he continued to deteriorate caught my attention because his proposal instantly puts her on guard and signals that he was dealing with something just as dangerous as drug addiction. 

While Davis comes in and out of the story, Tyson continues to rise as a Hollywood star, and she explains the stories behind her iconic roles and friendships with stars of the past who are no longer with us. It is a fascinating look at the motion picture industry and the challenges faced by black women who find themselves in tinsel town. She waged a constant battle against the stereotypical portrayals of black women and that is part of her enduring legacy. Despite the sexual predators, offensive scripts, and rigors of the entertainment industry, she kept rising as a star and mastering her craft. And in her advanced years, she continued to appear in front of the camera to keep moving forward in life. This is one of the best autobiographies I have read. I only wish it were longer. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Tyson’s life and the people who were part of it. Recently, I was eager for another biography to read, and this book was just what I needed. 

“To examine, to question, to discover and evolve—that is what it means to be alive. The day we cease to explore is the day we begin to wilt. I share my testimony in these pages not because I have reached any lasting conclusions, but because I have so much to understand. I am as inquisitive about life now as I was as a child. My story will never be finished, nor should it be. For as long as God grants me breath, I will be living—and writing—my next chapter.” – Cicely Tyson 

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08425MPGS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins Publishers, 2021