i'm tavis smiley, tonight a conversation with the incomparable cicely tyson. her iconic performance are in such landmark dramas as "the autobiography of miss jane pittman," "roots," and of course, "sounder," these are just to name a few of her outstanding portrayals which have earned her internation acclaim. she has an oscar nomination, three emmy awards and now into her eighth decade, a tony award for performance as carry watts in "the trip to bountiful" currently at ahmanson theater. here in los angeles. after an award-winning run on broadway. we've glad you've joined us, a conversation with cicely tyson coming up right now. ♪ ♪

>> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> there is so much to love and admire about actress and activist cicely tyson. there are her outstanding performance in dramas such as "sounder" and "roots" and "the autobiography of miss jane pittman," there's also her outspoken advocacy for civil rights and her determination to play strong women. i love this quote she gave to the new york times last year, quote, i saw that i could not

afford the luxury of just being an actress, so i made the choice to use my career as a platform to address the issues of the race i was born into, closed quote. before we begin the conversation, we will take a look at cicely tyson in her tony-award winning role of carrie watts in "the trip to bountiful" now here at the ahmanson theater here in los angeles. >> i wonder why the lord isn't with us every day. would be so nice if he was. >> yeah? >> yeah. maybe then we wouldn't appreciate so much the side he's on our side. or maybe he's always on our side we just don't even know it. maybe i had to wait 20 years couped up in that city before i could appreciate getting back here. jesus is mine. ♪ oh, what a full taste of glory divine ♪

♪ heir of salvation, purchase of god ♪ ♪ >> i grew up singing that song in my church and what i saw you on broadway one of the most moving moments was listening to the audience join in and sing those lyrics with you. you feel that on stage do you? >> i'm telling you. well actually i didn't know. i didn't hear it. it was my family who came to see the show and asked me if i heard the people singing and you know i'm so focus the on stage that i did not hear it. but a few nights later it was so verbose that i couldn't miss it. [ laughter ] and they were standing up and applauding and rocking. it was wonderful! >> yeah. >> but blessed assurance is a hymn that i heard my mother sing

always on sundays especially on sunday's when she would be in the kitchen preparing sunday dinner. i go to baptist church. >> in harlem. >> and i bought a pu and on it is blessed assurance in memory of my mom. >> i will have to look that up when i go there. >> it is a beautiful song. >> very moving, yes. >> how does it feel after all these years when you can pull the audience into a scene with you that way. >> well it is a bouy. it lifts me up. it's like being on top of a balloon. it just lifts you right up to the sky. it really does. and i tell people all the time, my students, and young people that i talk to, that the audience gets the overflow. if you are full, it's the overflow that the audience gets and that's what brings them in.

>> how do you after all these years and all of the various expressions of your gift still remain so full? you've given so much away how do you remain full. >> that's just it. i have something in this hand and i have this hand out, and you put something in that hand and then offer me something else, what do i do? i have to less loose something in order to be filled again. >> yeah. >> okay. and that's what you do. i mean, we are born to share, to give, that's why we give the gifts that we have. >> uh-huh. >> if you don't use it, you will lose it. i'm quoting miles davis. >> oh, yeah. i knew where you were going with that. >> if you don't use it, you lose it and that's what we're here for to share with one another what every gift god as given us. >> what do you most get out of sharing your artistic gift

whether on stage or on screen what is the joy in it for you? the sharing? >> the joy comes from, now people ask me why i don't watch my work, which i don't. >> right. >> and the gratification for me comes in the doing of it. >> uh-huh. >> and i do it in the hopes that the audience will get what i feel while i'm doing it. >> uh-huh. >> and that's the reason for my doing it. >> yeah. >> and when i'm stopped every day by someone it could be a child it could be a teenager, it could be an elder and they say, you've done so much for me. that's all i need. that's enough for me. >> yeah. >> okay. because it makes me know that i have chosen the right path on which to travel.

>> yeah. >> in order to share the gift that god has given me. >> what is amazing to me, we've had this conversation in so many times publicly and privately over the years, i'm always humbled how well you wear this garment i mean now the garment of a public that loves you. i mean, i looked at the -- we're taping shows here every day and with all due respect to all of the guests over the years of my being on pbs, there's certain people when they come on the lot there's a buzz all over the lot and people start appearing out of nowhere to meet and get a glimpse of said person, you were one of the persons, everybody, including other stars who were in the area wanted to meet and come see cicely tyson at this age, how do you wear that garment with such grace and such humility?

when that much love and adoration is coming at you? >> i guess, you know and i think i thank god every day that whatever it is it isn't something that i consciously am aware of. >> uh-huh. >> you understand what i'm saying? >> uh-huh. >> i consider myself deeply blessed that i have lived long enough and my mother has always said to me, if you live long enough you will see everything. >> >> uh-huh. >> she was full of these types of things. i have lived long enough to go into a second stage of my life with a career that has blossomed like the sun. >> uh-huh. >> i'm so, i guess, maybe

consciously or subconsciously i'm aware of the fact that i'm here i am the soul-surviving member in my family. i've lost my mother, brother, father, and sister. i'm the only one here. and i was the frailest of the three children. i wasn't supposed to be here. i mean, they almost lost me several times and yet i have outlived all of them. and i know that that reason is because i have a mission to fulfill and when i've done that and he thinks that i've done it then i will leave. >> if i'm getting too touchy you tell me but since you raised it say a word if you will about why you were so frail as a child. was there a disease or aleness? what was it. >> well i was premature. >> uh-huh. >> and had a heart problem. yeah.

>> yeah. >> and they didn't expect me to survive that. >> and with a heart problem you lived all these years. [ laughter ] i can say maybe you had something else but your heart, it ain't stopping after all these years. >> that's right. >> which leads me to ask how it is, i was thinking to use the word proficient. you are more gifted at just proficient. you are a artistic genius at what you do. how is it that at your age you can stay that focused, be this good. i watch ud on broadway and commented to so many people how your timing is so on point. musicians would say, you're on the one. you are always on the one. you're right where you're supposed to be. how do you keep all this going at this chronolongic al icchronologically

gifted. [ laughter ] >> i love it. >> i'll call it that. how do you do it? >> well, it's my work. >> yeah. >> it's my profession. it's what i've chosen to make a living for myself in this life. and so whenever, for instance, carrie in trip i had gone to see geraldine page do the movie i left the theater and went to my agent and i said you get me my gift trip to bountiful and i will retire. he looked at me and laughed and that was it. i advise theed himvisited him on a monthly basis and said where is my trip to bountiful, i wasn't referring to

the actual play, i was referring to one role. i have done phenomenal pieces. >> lord yes. >> and so i said i just want one more. i won't be greedy. i'll back away. you know. and then i'll go. you know. well, 26 years later. i receive a call from my assistant who said van ramseyy is looking for you. he is the costume designer for "trip" and he has someone he wants to introduce you to. the person turned out to be haley foot, courton's daughter. we met and she said i'm about to do a play of my fathers. and i was a black cat and he had so much respect for you. i know he would want you alone to play the lead role.

i asked who is your father. she said horton foot. i said and the play? she said "trip the bountiful i fell off the chair. because i thought had is not real. i'm just imagining this is going on. 26 years later. out of nowhere. it came. all right. >> uh-huh. >> and so i said, of course. what am i supposed to say. >> once you got up off the floor. >> where's the script. [ laughter ] so i got the script and i started reading and the more i read it the more i fell in love with this woman. i then took a trip to texas to

visit his home and to get a sense of who this woman was and how he came about her and every little thing that he talked about for her in the play, i wanted to be part of her, i needed to feel her, i needed to stiff into her skin so that it fitted me. slip into her skin so that it fitted me. once i had that now i hadn't been on stage 30 years, up stage, down stage, around stage i was scared to death. do you hear me? >> yeah. >> and so michael wilson who was the director saw it knew it understood it and was so careful about how he handled me for fear i would say i can't do

it and go away. and so when he saw that i had been able to stand on my own two feet, he just let go. >> the rest is history. >> speaking of feet, jonathan can you get a shot of these, there you go. look at that [ laughter ] look at that bling. i just wanted y'all to see that speaking of feet. [ laughter ] those are cute. >> thank you. >> are they comfortable. >> very comfy. yes. yes. >> let me advance your story right quick. 26 years you basically called down this play. you called down this moment. i believe we can do that. you have to call some things out as though they were. >> absolutely. >> you called that thing down. 26 years later, you call this down, how then did it feel when you were sitting in the audience

at the tony awards and they called your name. >> call! [ laughter ] well first of all, i never dreamed it to be possible. i didn't expect it at all. >> uh-huh. >> and so, carl was with me and when they got to the category i said somebody else's name when i heard my name i was like, okay i turned to him and i said do i have to go up there. [ laughter ] >> yeah that would be helpful, yeah. >> >>. [ laughter ] i said you have to go with me. [ laughter ] i said, you have to go with me. i can't go by myself.

and he escorted me up there. and when i looked out at this vast audience who was standing up applauding, it's a moment i'll never forget. never. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> going to make me cry now.t rju does one process, and again i keep coming back to how long you've done this as a tribute to your journey and your gift, how does one process at this age being regarded and awarded and honored in that way by your peers? >> i'm going to tell you a story, i speak a lot to youngsters, and some years ago i was attending a school in alabama speaking to a number of

young people. >> uh-huh. >> and a young lady stood up and said to me now that you have made it, what else are you going to do? what are you going to do? and i looked at her and thought about the question. and i said to her, the day i think that i have made it, i'm finished. okay. because i use every single day every single experience as a day of educating myself. there isn't a day that goes by in my life that i don't learn something. if i learn that i made a mistake which i don't think there are any, i will think about it, and i will say well,

there's a lesson to be learned pon that one. >> uh-huh. >> so that every single thing that happens in my life i am the sum total of my whole life experience. that's who i am today. every single thing. and i tend to think of those things that we perceive as negative as positive. because once you are able to survive that and you can make the next step up then you know that you're strong enough to go on. >> some mistakes for you then are really juáu lessons. >> oh, they're all lessons. >> yeah, yeah. >> they are all lessons. every -- what we perceive as mistakes is a lesson. it's all a part of who you become. >> uh-huh. >> and i think we tend to gain more from what we perceive as negative as opposed to what we

perceive as positive. >> i think you are right. i think if anyone is being honest, anyone as successful as you, if they are being honest with you they will tell you they have learned much more from their failures than ever from their successes. >> exactly. but see, the most important thing, i think to get through that is the fact that you survived. >> oh, yeah. >> something that you thought you never could live through. okay. you survived it. which gives you more strength for the next thing that comes up. >> you are plenty of things if nothing else you are a survivor. >> in a business that doesn't always regard a perso' of your color and your style and your -- how have you survived in this business all these years? >> because i know that i've been put here for a purpose. >> yeah. >> and into one can deter that. >> yeah. you talked a moment ago speaking

to young people, i will never forget the night i came to see you on broadway. i will never forget because of one, your brilliant performance. second i came back stage to see you after the show. >> and you kneeled. >> i have to whenever i see you get down on both knees darling. but i was the bearer of bad news for you that night. that was the day the verdict came down in the tray von martin trial and it hit you so hard. i said what's wrong, the verdict just came down. what are you saying to yá t people about having to navigate life when you see stuff like innocent children like tray von ferguson, missouri and michael brown how what do you say to young people? >> i think i would speak to the parents first. especially parents of young

black boys. that they have to give them the tools with which to navigate life. as corny as it may sound, it's important for them to know that they have to do unto others as they would have them do unto you. let that be your mantra. okay. and that will allow you to carry yourself in such a way that threatening to someone of another color. the right to carry an pssu'ition that could take your life away. and so it will not allow you to

spew any anger orbeligerence that would allow them to do that. first you have to know who you are, what you are, and why you are on the face of this earth. you have to know that about yourself. i have a friend here in that to her. she's working with me on the show. i said i have such respect for you. to be able to bring up three young black men in this city and not have them get into any difficulty, not one of them, not one time. >> uh-huh. >> and what it took for you to bq ble to do that. she just broke down and cried because she understoq,actly what i'm saying. all mothers, i say mothers, i

don't know, i can't begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a child. in that way. i cannot imagine. >> yeah. i could talk to you for hours and hours and hours. you got work to do here in l.a. and after you leave the ahmanson theater in los angeles you're headed to boston. >> yes. >> and i hope, i've been hearing rumors, i hope this london thr'g might actually work out. >> well they're talking about it. they have a theater and a director so who knjuár @r(t&háhp &hc& >> it will be nice. you having fun? >> i'm loving every single moment. >> yeah. well i've enjoyed it. >> i'm so grateful at this stage of my life i'm allowed to do this. >> i've enjoyed every single moment of this conversation. >> tha'k you so much. >> honor to have you. i love you. >> thank you god bless you. thank you.

>> been waiting a long time for her to finally show up on this set. trying to work it out to get her on the set. i'm going to sleep well tonight. >> you live long enáu -- >> live long enough you will see everything. glad i was able to see you. that's our show for tonight. as always, keep the faith. ♪ ♪ >> for more information on today's show visit tavis online. join me next time for a conversation with angelica

huestis about houston and her memoir. until next time we'll see you >> and by contributions to your pbs station frá )qu you thank you.

rose: welcome with the program. we begin 2010 with ian bremmer of your asiaiurasia group and of your asiaiurasia group and the top risks of 2015. >> it's clear the cyberattacks that brought down the north korean enter net, such as it 1,000 servers, they all run through china. those attacks could not have happened or been successful without at least some level of chinese complicity. right? having said that, the chinese two days later shut down all access for gmail in china. so it's not clear they are happy with the united states punishing the north koreans. it's very clear for a while now that chinese have felt that north korea is a danger for them. and i wonder if we are going to have this question about