Oprah Winfreyis spending her 67th birthday honoringCicely Tyson.
Oprah and Stedman Graham (L); Cicely Tyson.Prince Williams/WireImage; Amy Sussman/Getty
“What[The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman]changed for me was that people were able to understand who we are, what we are, and why we were placed on this universe; that we were human beings just like any other person and should be treated the same,” Tyson said ina recent interviewof the film’s portrayal of Black people. “That’s all we wanted.”
Of Winfrey’s 2005Legends Ball- which included Tyson among the star-studded guest list of 25 Black women who have made an impact on history within entertainment and beyond - King says she doesn’t know if it even would be something that would’ve existed “if Oprah didn’t have the affection and the relationship she had with Cicely Tyson.”
“And it grew from Cicely Tyson to many other people, Black women, who shefelt had made a difference inher life, who she admired and who paved the way,” King continues, adding of Winfrey and Tyson, “The two of them were extremely close.”
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Oprah Winfrey and Cicely Tyson in 2009.Brian Killian/Getty Images
“I’mamazed every single day I live,” Tyson said near the end of the interview. “I mean, what my life became is not what I expected. I had no idea that I would touch anybody.”
King tells PEOPLE now, “She was so vibrant and so engaged and so happy. And she was sitting there with her Manolo Blahnik shoes and talking about directing,” emphasizing that during the sit-down, Tyson didn’t seem like she was “tired” or finished with her life’s work.
“That was not where her head was at. Sowhen I did the interview, I didn’t think, ‘Oh boy, this could be the last one.’ I really didn’t because I know that she had more work to do,” King adds.
Cicely Tyson.
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Winfrey shared a touching story of one of her “favorite” memories of Tyson on Thursday, writing on Instagram alongside aphoto of them laughing together, “Of all the times and experiences we shared together, this was one of my favorites: The weekend of the Legends Ball in 2005.”
“The idea for the ball originated because I wanted to celebrate HER, and other remarkable Black women who carved a path and built a bridge for me and generations to follow. What a joy to honor her and feel her receive it!” she continued.
source: people.com
