Sidney Poitier the Actor, Scholar, Gentleman and Diplomat
Someone like us on the silver screen
I was 11 years old when Sidney Poitier filmed Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”. When I saw this movie for the first time, it became a revelation of a African-American man. He, as both the actor and as Walter Lee Younger, gave me another role model I could call my hero.
Back in 1961, we watched movies usually in the Black neighborhood theaters and then on TV. On those rare moments when an actor or character entered the screen that looked like us, we called everyone around to watch. Watching Poitier and other Black actors was an all family event. Everything going on in our homes during those moments when African-American entertainers were seen on television became a celebration of our struggles and our plight in America!
Actor, Scholar, Gentleman and Diplomat
Sidney Poitier, for me, was more than just an actor. He became a spokesperson seen, in real time, as a leader…a voice…an activist. I desired to follow in each of his footpaths, but particularly that of a leader that would put their life on the line for us. Growing up in our nation’s capital, where politics and government was all consuming, gave me a clearer purpose of self. As my parents worked for the government, it afford me and my sisters a protected, guided, structured, educated middle-class upbringing. Politics, race, family, education were always a conversation and of relevancy of all of the persons that I came to know as family, friends, or peers that would influence my own personal choice of a career in the entertainment industry.
My first time acknowledging Poitier was secondary to the fact that in the film “Blackboard Jungle”, my very own uncle David Meacham was in the film as one of the students. Now a Hollywood cast really looked like family. Watching and engaging with his films and stage productions during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s laid the groundwork for my appreciation for Poitier in every role that he performed. In 1961, Poitier starred in the film adaptation of “A Raisin in the Sun”. Poitier starred in “Paris Blues” with Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Louis Armstrong, & Diahann Carroll.
In 1963 he starred in “Lilies of the Field”. His role won him the Academy Award for Best Actor and he became the first African-American male actor to win the award. As much as I was happy to see Sidney Poitier win the award, I felt that what he accomplished in “A Raisin in the Sun” was far and above his performance in “Lilies of the Field”.
I, too, shall sit at the table…
I continued to follow his career in other films that found their way into the best of the best of films featuring or about African-American people. In 1967, he was the most successful draw at the box office with three of his most popular films, “To Sir, With Love”, “In the Heat of the Night”, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”. All three of these movies placed Poitier in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement for which I was now involved. I would come to learn even more of his off-screen involvement as a leader of this cause.
A slap heard round the world
In watching the recent documentary on the life of Poitier, I was reminded of the scene of “In the Heat of the Night”, when Mr. Poitier is slapped by a White southern man. It would be Virgil Tibb’s (Poiter’s character in the film) response that would cause us all to reel back on our heels.
And the documentary had a similar impact in that it brought to light that Poitier made sure that his contract specifically stated that the studio permitted him to respond by slapping the man back. He states in the documentary that it was important for his character to respond that way, particularly as an educated Northern police detective whose authority was being undermined. That scene shocked America and instantly became that ‘call for respect’ heard around the world. This was a new day for all of us!
In good company
One of the highlights of my own career in the arts was when I had the pleasure and honor to meet Sidney Poitier in NYC at the 50th Anniversary Wedding banquet of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. I would also go on to work with his talented daughter Pamela Poitier when she lived in Atlanta, GA. As an actor, producer, director, dramaturge, filmmaker and documentarian Sidney Poitier will always be, for me, a Superhero and a First Class Gentleman.
Sidney Poitier: February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022