Autobiography

Just as I Am

Just as I Am

  • Downloads：8458
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-12 11:51:03
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Cicely Tyson
  • ISBN：0062931067
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

“In her long and extraordinary career， Cicely Tyson has not only succeeded as an actor， she has shaped the course of history。” –President Barack Obama， 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony

"Just As I Am is my truth。 It is me， plain and unvarnished， with the glitter and garland set aside。 In these pages， I am indeed Cicely， the actress who has been blessed to grace the stage and screen for six decades。 Yet I am also the church girl who once rarely spoke a word。 I am the teenager who sought solace in the verses of the old hymn for which this book is named。 I am a daughter and mother， a sister， and a friend。 I am an observer of human nature and the dreamer of audacious dreams。 I am a woman who has hurt as immeasurably as I have loved， a child of God divinely guided by His hand。 And here in my ninth decade， I am a woman who， at long last， has something meaningful to say。” –Cicely Tyson

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Reviews

romekia furr ，

This book was sensational！ Mrs。 Tyson gave life lessons， examples of kindness， and relayed plenty of foolishness in this book。 I am so glad that she took the time to bless us with this gem before she departed this Earth。 This book also lead me to two other books; The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman and The Autobiography of Miles Davis。

Anita ，

Icon！

Selina Durio ，

A life well livedThis was the marvelous story of a life well lived。 Cicely Tyson is the epitome of a woman of worth that I as a woman of color hope and pray to emulate

Bikki ，

What an interesting life and amazing woman！

Lori Selonke ，

I love this lady。 A great story teller。 She lived a extraordinary life。 She lived in a time when it wasn’t so easy for a black young women。 I loved this book。 The first time I saw her on the screen when watching Roots， One of the greatest mini series。 We gathered around the television every week to watch Roots。 When listening to Cicely Tyson speak on talk shows I could just listen to her all day。 She will be missed。

Lori Ingram ，

This was an AMAZING read/listen。 Thank you Ms。 Tyson for your contributions to the world and your words of wisdom to us all。 May we all strive to make a positive difference in the lives of others to honor your example。 SIP

Monica ，

I just loved reading this book。 Cicely Tyson is Black royalty and her memoir is moving， inspiring， and so enlightening。 I loved reading about her journey as an actress and an intellectual。

Heather ，

Her story so raw。 Historical references place context。 Loved it

Mariejkt ，

This was wonderful but hard to read about some of the abuse she had in life。 But so worth the read。 She has always been one of my favorite actress so this was a book I was excited to read and I am so glad I did。 You feel like Ms。 Cicely Tyson is sitting with you telling her story so powerful。

Tyler ，

This woman is an absolute treasure and her impact will never be forgotten。 How lucky we are to have an autobiography in her own words。

Livia ，

An extraordinary life

Lauri ，

Did not finish。 I was bored。

Crystal ，

Amazing woman with some amazing stories！ I love her fire！！ 4。5 stars！

Kathy Piselli ，

Like others， I requested this book before Miss Tyson's death and it arrived after。 It's a nice， readable account with great photos。 Like others， I requested this book before Miss Tyson's death and it arrived after。 It's a nice， readable account with great photos。 。。。more

Larisha ，

Excellent book。 I Love when Mrs。 Tyson said “I’m grateful that God often laughs at our plans， and substitutes HIS better ones。”Mrs。 Cicely Tyson decided， as she said so well。。。 “To use my profession as a platform - a stage from which to make my voice heard my carefully choosing my projects and portrayals。 I could not afford the luxury of simply being an actress。 “

Vickie ，

I really really enjoyed this book。 So many memories， so much I didn't know。 I gave 4 stars only because it was a little long but other than that。 Great read。 I really really enjoyed this book。 So many memories， so much I didn't know。 I gave 4 stars only because it was a little long but other than that。 Great read。 。。。more

John Gushue ，

What a life， what a book 。。。 Cicely Tyson put off writing a memoir for many years， but thankfully finished it before her death earlier this year。 Tyson played many memorable characters over a long career， but her own life is as engaging， complex and fascinating as those performances。 Just one detail: she was so terrified of seeing King Kong as a child， she avoided movies as a grownup， and indeed did not turn to acting until she was in her 30s。 Her writing is crisp and powerful， particularly when What a life， what a book 。。。 Cicely Tyson put off writing a memoir for many years， but thankfully finished it before her death earlier this year。 Tyson played many memorable characters over a long career， but her own life is as engaging， complex and fascinating as those performances。 Just one detail: she was so terrified of seeing King Kong as a child， she avoided movies as a grownup， and indeed did not turn to acting until she was in her 30s。 Her writing is crisp and powerful， particularly when she addresses the realities of being Black and a woman in an industry and culture that diminishes both。 A great read。 。。。more

Lynn ，

Excellent autobiography of Cicely Tyson whose parents were immigrants from Nevis and settled in Harlem。 Growing up poor， she ended up pregnant at 17 and having to get married。 But being good in school， talented in typing and with a good figure， she left to become a typist， model and then actress。 She discusses her experiences in Black theater including an improv off Broadway show called The Blacks that ran for years。 Eventually she won parts in movies and landing the role of the mother in Sounde Excellent autobiography of Cicely Tyson whose parents were immigrants from Nevis and settled in Harlem。 Growing up poor， she ended up pregnant at 17 and having to get married。 But being good in school， talented in typing and with a good figure， she left to become a typist， model and then actress。 She discusses her experiences in Black theater including an improv off Broadway show called The Blacks that ran for years。 Eventually she won parts in movies and landing the role of the mother in Sounder。 A Woman Called Moses， The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Roots soon followed。 Her marriage with Miles Davis is documented as well as her theater work and later films。 She died recently and the book comes very close to her last months。 Very good book。 。。。more

Diane Wilkes ，

My friend Jennifer recommended this so highly， I put it on reserve at my library。 The truth is I saw very few of the movies Cicely Tyson appeared in， because I don't see many movies。 But I always admired her style， grace， and presence， and the fact that she married Miles Davis and the couple was like royalty intrigued me。I started Just as I Am thinking it would be a memoir that would keep my attention。 It did， but it was so much more than that。 The writing， her depth， her wisdom， her spiritualit My friend Jennifer recommended this so highly， I put it on reserve at my library。 The truth is I saw very few of the movies Cicely Tyson appeared in， because I don't see many movies。 But I always admired her style， grace， and presence， and the fact that she married Miles Davis and the couple was like royalty intrigued me。I started Just as I Am thinking it would be a memoir that would keep my attention。 It did， but it was so much more than that。 The writing， her depth， her wisdom， her spirituality， the essence of her art/istry and her astute frankness on race 。 。 。 this book is amazing。 Periodically， I'd have to stop reading just to marvel at Tyson's authenticity and perspective。 She is also someone whose mother was an expert seamstress who dressed her daughters in beautiful， stylish clothes--so she lovingly recounts some of her favorite ensembles and the couturiers who created them。Her many， many gifts are extraordinary and her book reflects all of them。She is unsparing about what systemic racism has inflicted on Blacks in this country--unsparing and consistent。 If that is going to offend you， stay away from this book。 She may not have been an activist in terms of marches and such， but she is a truth-teller and warrior for righteousness， with all that that entails。Towards the end of the book， she sends a special message to her sisters， Black women。 I hoped I wasn't intruding by reading it， but I was grateful to be able to read her words and nod。This is not a book to miss。 。。。more

Angie ，

I’m only 1/2 way through but it returned before I could finish。 The audio is incredible and I truly enjoyed reading/listening to Ms。 Tyson’s life story。

Patrice Goodman ，

It was a well documented life read by the author。 I loved it！ She spoke her truth。

Simone ，

This was a great book。 Very inspiring

Saara ，

4。5🌟I really， really loved this memoir。 As I listened to the words of Ms Tyson， my heart filled with warmth。 With roots in Nevis， Ms Nevis broke barriers and almost single handedly paved the way for black women in the acting industry。 Perhaps she waited too long to write her book and became too weak to record the audiobook herself; but I did savour her wit and contagious laughter in The Introduction 🤗。

Red ，

This is one of the best memoirs I have EVER read。 I loved it。 At times， it felt like an audio movie。 The narrator， Michelle Burford has the most soothing and flawless voice。 The wisdom in this book; I just adore Cicely Tyson。

Barbara Koefod ，

An amazing life， and a compelling historical perspective on race， women and faith。

Judith Moore ，

Mixed feelings on this one。。。 I read it for my book club。 I have never been a fan of celebrity biography， especially of actors。 I like remembering the characters they played in the great movies I have loved without thinking about their private lives。 Of course， Tyson's life， like her career， is a wondrous tale of overcoming an unjust society and familial dysfunction。 As autobiography， she is not self-critical; being the hero of her own story。 She is self-aware， understanding the psychology that Mixed feelings on this one。。。 I read it for my book club。 I have never been a fan of celebrity biography， especially of actors。 I like remembering the characters they played in the great movies I have loved without thinking about their private lives。 Of course， Tyson's life， like her career， is a wondrous tale of overcoming an unjust society and familial dysfunction。 As autobiography， she is not self-critical; being the hero of her own story。 She is self-aware， understanding the psychology that drew her into a tormenting relationship with Miles Davis。 If you like a story of the heroic Black celebrity overcoming impossible odds， this is the book for you。 。。。more

Margaret Czekay ，

I've long admired Ms。 Tyson and her recent death was a great loss to America。 As a kid I watched her in both Sounder an d the Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and she was stellar in both。 I didnt know much about her personal life other than the fact that she had been married to the great Miles Davis。 Her intelligence， her grace， her powerful gentleness and her eloquence come through beautifully in this book。 A must read。 I've long admired Ms。 Tyson and her recent death was a great loss to America。 As a kid I watched her in both Sounder an d the Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and she was stellar in both。 I didnt know much about her personal life other than the fact that she had been married to the great Miles Davis。 Her intelligence， her grace， her powerful gentleness and her eloquence come through beautifully in this book。 A must read。 。。。more

Samantha Sprott ，

Cicely Tyson is truly an icon！ Her memoir is filled with so many inspiring memories and heartfelt recollections， such a great listen on audio

Bookclubcheerleader ，

What a life！ Everyone should read this！

Traci ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Very well written， very engrossing and enjoyable

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Just as I Am

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Just as I Am&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Just as I Am&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0