After learning about the passing of Cicely Tyson, Michelle and Barack Obama took to their platforms to pay tribute to the actress. As you know, Cicely Tyson died yesterday at the age of 96 and many big names, as well as fans, honored her, including the former POTUS and FLOTUS.
Barack posted a pic featuring the iconic actress and Black trailblazer, himself and Michelle, as well as another one of him honoring Tyson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his presidency.
Alongside these photos, he wrote a very sweet and touching message.
It reads, in part: ‘When Cicely Tyson was born, doctors predicted that she would not make it 3 months because of a murmur in her heart. What they did not know, what they could not know, was that Cicely had a heart unlike any other. The kind that wouldn’t only beat for 96 more years but leave a mark on the world few could match.’
He went on to talk about her amazing work, of course, and also praised the iconic actress for her determination to ‘speak her truth.’
What this entailed, was sometimes years without work because she refused to take on roles that reduced her to just her race or gender during a time when that was the norm.
The former president recalled presenting Cisely with the Medal of Freedom and called her a ‘trailblazer whose legacy couldn’t be measured by her Emmys and Tony and Oscar alone, but by the barriers she broke and the dreams she made possible.’
As for Michelle, she posted two pictures as well, both featuring herself and Tyson.
Among other things, the respected former First Lady, applauded the late actress’ ‘humanity.’
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A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama)
She wrote, in the caption that ‘Just by walking into a room, she had this way of elevating everyone around her. Carrying forward a flame that not only guided her for 96 pathbreaking years but lit the way for so many of us.’
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For more on what she had to say about the late actress, check out the post above!
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