NCBCP Headlines
Melanie L. Campbell, President/CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation & Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable Reflects on the Passing of African American Icon Cicely Tyson
Washington, DC (January 29, 2021) -- In response to the passing of Emmy- and Tony-award winning actress Cicely Tyson yesterday, Melanie L. Campbell, President of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR), reflects “My heart is truly broken. Yesterday, we lost not only an iconic award-winning actress who distinguished herself in theater, film and television, but a true pillar of African American culture. Cicely Tyson graced the stage and screen by always representing the strength, courage, class and grace of Black women worldwide. I thank and respect her for making those staunch decisions not to take roles that would demean and degrade Black women. Whether it was as a struggling, but proud mother in ‘Sounder’ or a venerable matriarch in ‘Jane Pittman’ who had seen it all during the civil rights struggles in the South, Ms. Tyson always made us proud.
“She also was an intregal part and contributor to the Civil Rights, Women’s Rights and Social Movement from the 1960s to today----by speaking out and drawing attention to injustices and playing an active role in the movement by using her platform to speak truth the power. The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Black Women’s Roundtable and Black Youth Vote mourn her passing and will ‘never forget to remember’ to honor her memory by doing the work to uplift, engage and empower our people to live their best lives.”
