Cicely Tyson passed yesterday January 28, 2021. In a career spanning more than seven decades, Tyson became known for her portrayal of strong African-American women.
In 1974, Cicely Tyson played the title role in the television film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Tyson’s portrayal of a centenarian black woman’s life from slavery until her death before the Civil Rights movement won her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie and an Emmy Award for Actress of the Year – Special.
The book was made into an award-winning television movie, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, broadcast on CBS in 1974. The film holds importance as one of the first made-for-TV movies to deal with African American characters with depth and sympathy. It preceded the ground-breaking television miniseries Roots by three years. The film culminates with Miss Pittman joining the civil rights movement in 1962 at age 110.
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
