Sidney Poitier, born on February 20, 1927, was an American actor, director, and diplomat who broke racial barriers in the film industry. He was the first African American actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Lilies of the Field" in 1963. Poitier's roles often challenged racial stereotypes and promoted social justice. He directed several successful films, including "Stir Crazy" and "A Piece of the Action." Poitier's contributions to cinema and his advocacy for civil rights have made him a revered figure in American history.
"I had learned something of Miami from people who had visited there, so I knew what to expect."
"I wanted to look at them because I feel, internally, that I am an ordinary person who has had an extraordinary life."
"To be compared to Jackie Robinson is an enormous compliment, but I don't think it's necessarily deserved."
"But my dad also was a remarkable man, a good person, a principled individual, a man of integrity."
"So I had to be careful. I recognized the responsibility that, whether I liked it or not, I had to accept whatever the obligation was. That was to behave in a manner, to carry myself in such a professional way, as if there ever is a reflection, it's a positive one."
"I was the only Black person on the set. It was unusual for me to be in a circumstance in which every move I made was tantamount to representation of 18 million people."
"We all suffer from the preoccupation that there exists... in the loved one, perfection."