Just As I Am: A Memoir

Synopsis: Cicely Tyson tells all in her memoir published earlier this year, just weeks before her death at the age of 96. Her story is of course personal, but also a chronicle of the last century of American life, an accounting of how far we have come in her long life and of how far we still must go. The memoir is packed with details from Ms Tyson’s personal and professional life: her early family life in Harlem, behind the scenes details of her legendary (yet poorly compensated) roles in projects like Sounder, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, and Roots, and her tumultuous relationship with Miles Davis.

Review: What a life! Born in Harlem in 1924 to immigrant parents from the tiny Caribbean island of Nevis, Cecily Tyson was by her own account a shy skinny kid. Pregnant and married at 17, it took some ambition and effort to get her life moving in another direction. She gives a full account of the events of her life, acting gigs, celebrity encounters and romantic life, and largely she was able to be both critical and reflective on her life choices. I’m certain I’m not the only person to be baffled by her choices where Miles Davis was concerned, but I guess that’s love for you…. hard to explain if you’re not in it! Full of comedy and drama, the memoir is also a history lesson as she describes how her career unfolded the shadow of racism and sexism. She makes plain that she wanted to make a difference in the world, and I believe she surely did. However, I am going to give a skeptical eye roll to her claims to psychic power, and her belief in divine intervention was a bit much for me. Perhaps that is not unexpected for a black woman of her generation. She was good friends with Bill Cosby, but makes no comment on his conviction for sexual assault, which I feel deserved some comment as well.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Cicely’s parents immigrated from Nevis, and her mother’s cooking gets lots of praise. Braised oxtail? I tried it! It’s just beef. A little boney and knobby, but nothing that some low and slow cooking can’t overcome. In the end, its just kind of a mildly spicy beef stew. This recipe is from Jocelyn Delk Adams, and you can find it yourself at her website grandbaby-cakes.com.

For the Jerk BBQ sauce:

18 oz bbq sauce bottle of your choice

1/4 cup mild jerk paste

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons pineapple sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 tablespoon kosher salt

1/2 tablespoon black pepper

1/4 cider vinegar

1 cup ketchup

For the Oxtails:

1 tablespoon olive oil

5 pounds oxtails

2 tablespoons al purpose flour

1 medium onion diced

3 garlic cloves diced

1 medium carrot peeled and diced

2 celery stalks diced

1 red bell pepper diced

1 habanero pepper

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon all spice

3 bay leaves

1 1/2 cup red wine

3 cups Jerk BBQ sauce

1 cup beef broth

3 fresh thyme sprigs

FOR THE SAUCE:

1) Whisk together all ingredients in a medium sauce pan.

2) Bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes

FOR THE OXTAILS

1) Heat oven to 275 degrees.

2) Season oxtails with S&P, dust with flour

3) Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven, and brown the oxtails in batches, remove to a paper towel lined plate.

4) Sauce the onions, garlic, carrots and celery for 4-5 minutes.

5) Add the habanero, red bell pepper, bay leaves, half the salt, pepper and all the spices, cook 2-3 minuets.

6) Add the wine to the pot and deglaze.

7) Add the BBQ sauce, beef broth and remaining spices, then add oxtails and fresh thyme.

8) Cover and bake for 4 hours

9) Remove the habanero before serving!!! Or omit it if spice isn’t your thing.