Harlem Renames Street In Honor Of Late Hometown Hero Cicely Tyson

On Saturday, September 17, Harlem’s East 101st Street between 3rd and Lexington Avenues will be renamed Cicely Tyson Way in recognition of the iconic and legendary actress Cicely Tyson who passed away last year at the age of 96.

Tyson, best known for being a pioneer for Black women in the entertainment industry, will be honored with a block party to help celebrate the street renaming. The Harlem community wanted to make this renaming one to remember, so the free event will be hosted on a stretch of 101st Street where the East Harlem native grew up from noon until 5 p.m.

During the celebration, there will a tribute ceremony to unveil the new street sign which will boast the award-winning actress’ name.  New York City Council member Diana Ayala will give a presentation followed special guest appearances from the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Poet Laureate of El Barrio Jesús Papoleto Meléndez, poet Juan Papa Santiago, the Dominican Folklore Dance Troupe, the Caribbean-American Sports, Youth Movement Steel Orchestra, and many more recognized community members. The ceremony will end by opening the dance floor to all attendees with sounds by DJ Krayze and Liquitone Entertainment.

Last summer the street naming was approved by the New York City Council following multiple organizations joining forces to support the renaming initiative led by Ayala, Taina Traverso, Nina M. Saxon, and Deborah Quinones, who co-founded the Cicely Tyson Street Renaming and Landmark Committee to ensure Tyson’s legacy lives on.

The committee was able to collect dozens of signatures for its petition from numerous high-profile individuals and businesses including political analyst Donna Brazile, El Museo del Barrio, El Barrio’s Artspace PS 109, Landmark East Harlem, and the New York Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where Tyson was an honorary member.

Tyson was born in 1924 and grew up in a five-story walk-up between Lexington and 3rd Avenue at 178 East 101st Street. She and her siblings were raised by their Caribbean parents who are from the island of Nevis. The award-winning actress went on to stardom and is best known for her roles in movies and television series such as Roots, The Color Purple, Sounder, The Autobiography of Jane Pittman, and How to Get Away with Murder.

During her extensive career, Cicely Tyson received three Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, several NAACP Image Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Tyson was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors lifetime achievement award in 2015, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (by President Barack Obama) in 2016, and an Honorary Academy Award in 2018.

Tyson died in January 2021 at the age of 96 and will be remembered as an ambassador of Harlem forever.