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Cicely Tyson

Source: Jack Mitchell / Getty

Cicely Tyson, the iconic, legendary actress has starred in some memorable classics including The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, “Roots,” The Women of Brewster Place and my personal favorite Annalise Keating’s mother in “How To Get Away With Murder.”  But in addition to her groundbreaking work, Tyson has spent her life advocating for arts education and advocating for human and civil rights. With such a body of work, it should really come as no surprise that she would have some wisdom to offer us. Check out some of the quotes she’s offered over the years.

 

 

Still From 'Carib Gold'

Source: John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive / Getty

When I told my mother that I wanted to be an actress, she said, you can’t live here and do that, and so I moved out. I was determined to prove her wrong because she was so sure that I was going to go astray. And that’s the juice that kept me going.