The world lost a legend when Cicely Tyson passed away this past January. Her indelible mark on Hollywood was felt by multiple generations of viewers, and her career is nothing short of inspirational. That’s why it’s no secret that her private Harlem funeral drew dozens of A-list celebrities, including Bill Clinton and Lenny Kravitz, who flew in to pay their respects to the award-winning actress. Now, her birthplace of Harlem is planning to rename a popular street after Tyson to honor her legacy.
Tyson was born in 1924 and raised in a five-story Harlem apartment located on East 101st Street. Her parents had immigrated from the Caribbean and she was the youngest of their three children. Last week, the Cicely Tyson Street Naming and Landmarking Committee presented the plan to rename East 101st Street, between Lexington and Third Avenue, “Cicely Tyson Way,” according to Harlem Patch.
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Per the city rules, the community group has gathered dozens of signatures in support of changing the street name. They’ve also received over a dozen letters of support, including one from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s New York chapter.
According to Tyson, life wasn’t easy in her neighborhood. “I come from lowly status. I grew up in an area that was called the slums at the time,” she said after receiving an honorary Oscar in 2018. “I still cannot imagine that I have met with presidents, kings, queens. How did I get here? I marvel at it..” Tyson always took pride in her Harlem roots and chose to live there throughout her career and life.
The community group plans to rename the southeast corners of East 101st Street after the “Fried Green Tomatoes” star and erect a new sign in her honor, according to Harlem Patch. A Change.org petition is also available for those who want to virtually support the project. So far, they have 881 of their targeted goal of 1,000 signatures.
The group plans to gain more awareness about the project until the City Council makes the final vote, which will likely occur later this year.
