On Saturday evening while the heavens were threatening to dump buckets of rain on those who were out and about I was among hundreds who had gathered in their finest attire to celebrate a tremendous feat, a $143 million school dedicated exclusively to performing and fines arts in the heart of the hood. But Cicely L. Tyson, the star of “Sounder”, initially turned down Principal Laura Trimmings request to use her name. “I said no. I don’t know her… I don’t live there and I don’t know any of their people,” Tyson said. “And for one solid year she pursued me.” When a cousin told her that East Orange was the first place her father lived after arriving in the United States from the island of Nevis—and that he lived in a house six blocks away from the school—Tyson changed her mind. “I knew it was my mission to complete the cycle.” Of course there was a condition: “I didn’t want my name to dress a building, I wanted to be involved the students,” she said. ” It is my only desire that at the end of their 12th year that they step outside of these doors and move mountains…that they don’t wait for the opportunities, they make the opportunities.” Okay so that’s when I had to pull out my Kleenex.
Tyson was clearly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love shown by friends who came to support her. From her pastor, The Reverend Calvin O. Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church to philanthropist Reginald Van Lee, the evening’s benefactor and the brother Tyson turned to when she needed to raise money. Of course we’d expect the politicians to be out in full force but it wasn’t just the local folk, Governor Jon Corzine, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Ambassador Andrew Young and former NYC mayor David Dinkins were also in the house. And her Hollywood friends were there too, Angela Bassett, Terence Howard (who popped out of his chair to move a music stand out of the Tyson’s way at the start of her speech which cause her to blush and say ‘you can move my stand anytime…), Tamara Tunie, Janet Hubert plus legendary duo Ashford & Simpson. The biggest commotion was caused by the anticipated arrival of Oprah, who tried her darndest to keep a low profile. She avoided the red carpet and cocktail hour and waited until everyone was seated in the auditorium to take her seat but once she was in the house folks clearly lost their cool points breaking their neck trying to snap a photo (and that wasn’t just the students).
While Tyson speech touched the heart it was the talent of the students on display that made me want to shout with joy. (Even a generally low-key Soledad O’Brien, who served as Mistress of Ceremony was especially jubilant.) Cellist, Jessie Smith, singer William Morrison and the harp ensemble (who played with Jeff Majors) were all awesome. Then the Mass Choir tore the house down along with BeBe Winans. Thanks to designer b michael, who handled the evening’s live auction, there was also a bit of comic relief.
I walked away from that evening thinking that it was a beautiful testament to what being black in America can be. Our children just need the opportunities and Tyson is doing that right in the ‘hood (and so do many other people). It’s not that inspiring stories don’t exist, it’s that the stories aren’t being shared. So I am happy that I can share this one with you.
If you liked this post, we think you might like these too:
