When news of the passing of multiple award-winner and activist Ruby Dee circulated this morning (July 12), most of the entertainment world was sent reeling in a state of shock and reflection. Dee, 91, lived a rich and full life, with highlights that included electrifying audiences on Broadway for 1959’s A Raisin In The Sun and standing alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.
She is predeceased in death by her husband Ossie Davis, who was also an acclaimed actor and activist.
The Hip-Hop community stood strong moments after the news rang out, most notably Spike Lee, who worked with Dee on his films Do The Right Thing and Jungle Fever.
“People, I just found out the loss of spirtual mother, the late, great Ruby Dee,” Lee began in his Instagram eulogy.
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“I’m crushed by this bad news and I know Ruby has already embraced in a warm loving hug from her life partern of 57 years–Mr. Ossie Davis. It has been one of my great blessing in life to work with two of the finest artist and activist; Ruby and Ossie were in the battlefields a with Paul Robeson, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King. Ruby and Ossie served as a living example that one coule be an artist and a activist too, that one could be an artist and still deal with what it means to be a Black woman and a Black man in these United States. God bless you, Ruby Dee. God bless you Ossie Davis. The both of you told “to always do the right thing.” Spike Lee. Please excuse all typos.”
Afterwards plenty of personalities within the culture who admired her work from afar took to their social media to also pay their respects.
Thumb through the gallery below to see how some of your favorite artists know that we lost a great one today.
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Photos: WENN, Twitter
