There are no other words to describe Cicely Tyson other than a TRUE icon and legend.
Cicely was one of very few black women in the entertainment industry when she started, but she never let that intimidate her. During an interview, she discussed wanting a greater role in the film "Sounder", but she was told, "You're too young, you're too pretty, you're too sexy, you're too this, you're too that, and I said, 'I am an actress."
Even when she played different roles, there was a lesson to always be learned, but this was no coincidence. "I'm very selective as I've been my whole career about what I do. Unfortunately, I'm not the kind of person who works only for money. It has to have some real substance for me to do it," a statement from Cicely Tyson during a 2013 interview with The Associated Press.
We could go on for days or weeks about Cicely's accomplishments (and still may not cover them all), but for now, we will say Thank You, Cicely Tyson, for your inspiration and for breaking ground so the rest of us can continue to thrive.
Rest in peace.