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The Black community has lost another treasure. A representative for the family recently confirmed that actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee died on Wednesday June 11th, 2014 at 91 years old.

The legendary star of stage and screen passed on at her home in New Rochelle, New York with a host of family, friends, and loved ones close by her side.

Dee alongside her late husband actor Ossie Davis were deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Oftentimes, when we saw Martin Luther King leading a large crowd in a peaceful protest, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis were right there. They also demonstrated with Malcolm X.

As for her contribution to the arts, Ruby Dee was most certainly a pioneer for actors of color. She starred in plenty of classic films including the hit 1960 film “Raisin In the Sun.” The Hip-Hop community remembers her more for her roles in the Spike Lee joints “Jungle Fever” and “Do the Right Thing.” The last film she was in was the 2007 drama “American Gangster” in which she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. That film also won her a Screen Actors Guild Award in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Ruby Dee has also been the recipient of a Grammy, an Emmy, and the National Medal of Arts.

Rest easy, Mother Sister!

Ruby Dee Dead At 91  was originally published on theurbandaily.com