Sidney Poitier (astro.com)

Poitier once said: "We suffer pain, we hang tight to hope, we nurture expectations, we are plagued occasionally by fears, and we are haunted by defeats and unrealized hopes. The hopelessness of which I speak is not limited." (Scioli and B. 71). Sidney Poitier's wise words tell of the hardships that life bombards individuals with, for he knew those hardships well. Sidney Poitier was born in Miami, Florida in the mid 1920s to Reginald and Evelyn James. They later moved to the Bahamas to raise Poitier. His family was not affluent; in fact, Poitier came from a family of tomato farmers. Then at 16, he moved to New York. It was there in New York, Poitier began acting. In his later years, his career flourished. His performances include: Days of Our Youth, 1945; Lysistrata, 1946; The Blackboard Jungle, 1955; and A Raisin in the Sun, 1959. Though some may idolize him for his acting ability; it is what he did with his acting that is heroic. Poitier proved to be a true hero through his myriad of achievements that served to further the African American image in Hollywood, in a time blemished with prejudice and hate.

Poitier displaying his newly won statuette. (digitalpolitical.com)

His determination to overcome prejudice and to become an actor led him to polish the reputations of African Americans. Initially, when he moved to New York; he got a job as a dishwasher. He then went to the American Negro Theatre for his first audition, but unfortunately the director rejected him. After his audition, he decided to work on the obstacles hindering him from becoming an actor. Later in a speech he expressed his gratitude to "an elderly Jewish waiter in New York who took the time to teach a young black dishwasher how to read, persisting over many months" [Poitier, Sidney (1924- )]. Poitier’s resolve allowed him to remove the obstructions that delayed his success as an actor. He beheld determination and humility, as a stranger taught him to read. Later when he recollected this audition, he told the Daily Variety: "I determined right then I was going to be an actor." Poitier displayed self-respect when he would not accept being turned away by the director because he could not read; instead he wanted to prove the man wrong. Rather than feeling sorry for himself; he took initiative to reach a goal of acting that was unprecedented for his race, socially unreachable because of his race. Poitier’s self-respect made his spirit seem unrelenting in the fight against prejudice.

Sidney Poitier in Lilies of Field. (imagesfrom.us)

From that point forward Poitier’s determination carried him far in his career. He received "a best actor statuette at the Academy Awards, making him the first black actor to earn this honor" [Poitier, Sidney (1924- )]. This award opened doors for African Americans in Hollywood, proving that they should be afforded these opportunities. This honor demonstrated that African Americans were worthy of such distinction. Thus, Poitier helped revolutionize their depiction in Hollywood.

In addition, he not only had respect for himself, but for all African Americans. "I used to go to pictures and when I saw a Negro on the screen I always left the theater feeling embarrassment and uneasiness. There was the Negro, devoid of any dignity--good maids who laughed too loudly, good butlers afraid of ghosts. I want to make motion pictures about the dignity, nobility, the magnificence of human life" (African American Film: The 1950s). The fact that Poitier became sick when he saw African Americans floundering around acting uneducated, illustrated his disdain for such stereotypes. Typically portrayed as servants and nothing more, Poitier knew of the actual potential of African Americans that was lost in these consistently degrading roles. The roles African Americans played did not exhibit distinguished qualities, and Poitier respected them enough to work to have this changed.

Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun. (walltapestryshop.com)

Poitier accomplished feats that people deemed impossible because of the color of his skin. He fought for the dignity of African Americans in movies, and with his determination and respect for himself and for others; he assisted in reshaping society’s thoughts on African Americans. He is an inspiration because he performed in roles that did not diminish African American' proud persona. Though hopelessness is not limited, Poitier can be described as a light at the end of the tunnel. He gave hope to victims of discrimination and inspired a generation to realize the importance of seeing beyond the surface.

There is a dim light at the other end of the tunnel The tunnel brightens more as I draw closer Fear; my worst enemy wants me to give up. Hope my most valuable companion keeps me moving on. Taking one step ahead is not easy but I shall overcome. For I believe that all the suffering is not put to waste. For there is a dim light at the other end of the tunnel.

-Nathan Gwira

The following section was added by The MY HERO Project in 2025:

Sidney Poitier died at his home in Beverly Hills on January 6, 2022, at ninety-four years old. Following his death, several prominent figures released statements to honor and celebrate Poitier and his work. Martin Scorsese released a statement in which he wrote:

For years, the spotlight was on Sidney Poitier. It was almost always for reasons other than the fact that he was an excellent actor. With good reason, given the horrors he faced as a young man and the obstacles he had to overcome long after he became a star. […] But he had a vocal precision and physical power and grace that at moments seemed almost supernatural. His most widely remembered films are the ones that broke racial barriers in Hollywood, but he was just as good in many other pictures that we should all look at again, like 'No Way Out,' 'Edge of the City' or 'The Bedford Incident.'[1]

Fellow actor and friend to Poitier, Denzel Washington, wrote:

It was a privilege to call Sidney Poitier my friend. He was a gentle man and opened doors for all of us that had been closed for years. God bless him and his family.[2]

In September 2022, American Oscar-nominated filmmaker Reginald Hudlin released a documentary about Poitier’s life, Sidney. Oprah Winfrey not only served as a producer but appeared in the film alongside others in the entertainment industry such as Barbra Streisand, Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington. Watch the trailer below:

Works Consulted

"African American Film: The 1950s." U*X*L Multicultural: A Comprehensive Resource on African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native North Americans. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 15 Dec. 2010.

"Poitier, Sidney (1924-)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2010.

Scioli, Anthony, and Henry B. The Power of Hope: Overcoming Your Most Daunting Life Difficulties--No Matter What. Hci, 2009. 71. Print.

"Sidney Poitier." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 1990. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 11 Dec. 2010.

"Sidney Poitier." PBS.org. Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 10/19/2000. Web. 14 Dec 2010. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/sidney-poitier/about-sidney-poitier/682/.