The groundbreaking program that helped launch a mini-series craze, ‘Roots’, based on the novel by Alex Haley, is one of the most watched series in television history, with an estimated 100 million people attending turn on the final. Tyson regularly said that no matter what other parts she takes, people will always know her as Binta, her ‘Roots’ character. As the mother of Kunta Kinte, Tyson had only a few scenes, but it was necessary to lay the foundation of the story, which could make the ugliness of slavery real to a mass audience.
Stream it DirecTV; buy it Amazon, Fandango Nou, Google Play, Vudu and Youtube.
‘Saturday Night Live’ (1979)
Before anyone could accuse Tyson of humorless prestige TV, she presented her own image during her time as the first black woman with ‘Saturday Night Live’. Due to the then lack of diversity in the program, this meant that she shared many sketches (and a monologue) with the only black member of the cast at the time, Garrett Morris (who also did a Tyson imitation) . In their best pieces, they fight over racial issues – the Token Minority Window-Dressing Act, the Black Resentment Drama Workshop. Bonus: Tyson sing!
Stream it Peacock and Hulu.
‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ (1991)
As Sipsey, Tyson turns out to be the secret weapon in a movie that apparently deals with the relationships between other women – a story of love and friendship between Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker), as told by Ninny (Jessica Tandy) to Evelyn (Kathy Bates), who then becomes inspired to change her own life. Sipsey is the mother figure for her own family as well as for a white one, and Tyson gives the character a quiet cruelty that may surprise you. This definitely surprises the local Klansmen.
Rent it Amazon, Fandango Nou, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and Youtube.
‘The Help’ (2011)
In this popular adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s 2009 novel, Tyson must fight for attention in a cast with a celebrated (and Oscar-nominated) competition. Eventually, with her memorable portrayal of Constantine, the beloved black maid and nanny who raised the white girl Skeeter (Emma Stone), she manages to just tragically set aside. Despite Tyson’s short time on screen, her character is great throughout the film and broke it at the end of your heart.