Actress and poet Ruby Dee died of natural causes in her home Wednesday night, according to ABC news.com.  The Grammy and Emmy winner was surrounded by family members when she passed.

The iconic Ruby is mostly known for her roles in Spike Lee movies Do The Right Thing and Jungle Fever.  She also played in the critically acclaimed film American Gangster starring Denzel Washington. During the 1960s, the pioneering actor also starred in classic film A Raisin in the Sun and was active–with her late husband Ossie Davis–in the Civil Rights movement. Ruby was 91 years old.

A quote from our owner and publisher, L. Londell McMillan:

“Ruby Dee was an amazing woman who, along with her late partner Ossie Davis, showed the world much love, creativity, empowerment and grace!  I feel very privileged to have met her and see her work on screen and off.  She was a beautiful force and wonderful work of art. RIP”

Darryl Robertson (@darry_robertson)