Harlem Renaming East 101st Street After Legendary Actress Cicely Tyson
Legendary actress Cicely Tyson will be honored with a forever tribute in Harlem.
According to Broadway World, East 101st Street between Third and Lexington Avenues will be renamed Cicely Tyson Way. The event is set for Saturday and touts a street celebration filled with cultural events to honor the deceased actress. The street-naming ceremony is special because it’s the place where Tyson was born and grew up in the area. Her parents emigrated from the Caribbean nation of Nevis. New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala will present the newly-minted street. The city council approved the measure in Summer 2021. Ayala, along with Taina Traverso, Nina M Saxon and Deborah Quiñones were instrumental in the monumental tribute to Tyson.
Quiñones also cofounded the Cicely Tyson Street Renaming and Landmark Committee.
The celebration consists of appearances from the esteemed Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Caribbean-American Sports and Youth Movement Steel Orchestra.
The tribute and ceremony boast high-profile names like Donna Brazile and Tyson’s sorors from the New York Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Tyson was an honorary member of the Black Greek-Lettered Organization.
The illustrious actress began her career in her 40s. She starred in films like Sounder and Roots. During her lengthy tenure in the acting game, the late entertainer won three Emmy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and an Honorary Academy Award in 2018, a Tony, NAACP Image Awards and a SAG Award.
She passed away in 2021 at 96 years old.
