Black History Fact #8: Sidney Poitier

 [00:00:00] What's going on everybody welcome to another a day with crime, black history fact edition. Of course, I'm your man, David. Let's jump in. Today. We are going to talk about a man who not only was an African-American pioneer and acting. But also was the first African American and Bohemian actor, to win the academy award. Mr. Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier was born [00:01:00] February 20th, 1927. He was a Bahamian in African-American actor, film director. And diplomat. In 1964, he was the first African-American actor. And first Bahamian to win the academy award for best actor. He received two competitive golden globe awards. A, competitive British academy of film and television arts. 

Also known as BAFTA and a Grammy award for best spoken word album. Poitier was one of the first major stars from the golden age of Hollywood cinema. Poitier's family lived in The Bahamas, then still a crown colony. But he was born unexpectedly in Miami, Florida. While they were visiting with automatically granted him, us citizenship. 

Permanently joining him to African America. 

He grew up in The Bahamas. But moved to Miami at age 15 into New York city when he was 16. [00:02:00] He joined the American Negro theater landing, his breakthrough film role as a high school student. In the film, Blackboard jungle in 1955. In 19 58, Poitier starred with Tony Curtis as chained together, escaped convicts 

and the defiant ones, which received nine academy award nominations. Both actors receive nominations for best actor with Poitier. being the first for a black actor. 

 They both also have best actor nominations for BAFTAS, with Sidney winning.

In 1964. He won the academy award and the golden globe for best actor for lilies of the field, which was released in 1963. He played a handyman, helping a group of German speaking nuns, build a chapel. Sidney also received a claim for Porgy and Bess in 1959. A raisin in the sun in [00:03:00] 1961. And a patch of blue in 1965. 

Because of his strong roles as epic African-American male characters. 

He continued to break ground in three successful 1967 films, which dealt with issues of race and race relations. To sir with love, Guess who's coming to dinner and In the heat of the night. The latter of which won the academy award for best picture for that year. He received golden globe and BAFTA nominations, for his performance in the last film. 

And an a pole the next year he was voted the U S his top box office star. 

Beginning in the 1970s, Sidney also directed various comedy films, including stir crazy in 1980. Which starred Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, among other films. After nearly a decade away from acting. He returned to television and film starring in shoot to kill in 1988. And sneakers in [00:04:00] 1992. Sidney was granted a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth the second in 1974. 

In 1982, he received the golden Globes Cecil B DeMille award. In 1995, he received the Kennedy center honor. From 1997 to 2007, he was the Bahamian ambassador to Japan. In 1999, he ranked 22nd among male actors on the 100 years, 100 stars list. By the American film Institute and receive the screen actors Guild, life achievement award. 

In 2002. He was given an honorary academy award and recognition of his remarkable accomplishments, as an artist and as a human being. In 2009, he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom. The highest civilian honor in the United States by president Barack Obama. In 2016, he was awarded [00:05:00] the BAFTA fellowship. 

for outstanding lifetime achievement. In film. 

I do not believe. I could be wrong, but from everything I've read and what i know of a lot of African-American actors and of this gentleman right here. I do believe that he is, the most decorated of all of the things that he has done, all of the movies that he has made. All of the lives that he has changed. 

As a matter of fact, at least for me as a young boy, the movie guess who's coming to dinner. If you guys have never seen it. It is about a black man who fall in love with a white woman and she brings him home to dinner. If you haven't seen that movie, you should definitely check it out. Katherine Hepburn also played in this. Film. 

I tell you a little bit more about him. And his early life, he was the youngest of seven children. He was born to [00:06:00] Evelyn and Reginald James Poitier. Afro Bahamian farmers who owned a farm on cat island. The family would travel to Miami to sell tomatoes and other produce to wholesalers. His father also worked as a cab driver and Nassau. 

Sidney was born unexpectedly in Miami while his parents own business. His birth was three months premature. And he was not expected to survive, but his parents remained in Miami for three months to nurse him to health. 

Some believe that the Poitier ancestors have migrated from Haiti. And we're probably among the runaway slaves who established maroon communities throughout The Bahamas, including cat island. 

Poitier was originally a French name and there were then no Poitier of French ancestry nearby in The Bahamas. However, there have been a Poitier of French ancestry on cat island. The name came from planter, Charles Leonard Poitier. who had immigrated from Jamaica in the early 18 hundreds. In [00:07:00] 1834, his wife's estate on cat island had 86 slaves of west African origin who kept the name Poitier, a, a name that had been introduced into the. 

Anglosphere since the Norman conquest in the 11th century. 

Charles Leonard Poitier might have men from Haiti originally, but had lived in Jamaica previously. Sidney lives with his family on cat island till he was 10. When they moved to Nassau. There he was exposed to the modern world where he saw his first automobile and first experienced electricity, plumbing, refrigeration, and motion pictures. 

He was raised Catholic, but later became an agnostic with views closer to Deism. At age 15, he was sent to Miami to live with his brothers, large family. What Sidney falls it impossible to adjust to the racism in Jim Crow era, Florida. At 16, he moved to New York city looking to become an actor, holding a string of jobs as a dishwasher, in [00:08:00] the meantime. After failing his first audition with the American Negro theater due to his inability to fully read the script, an elderly Jewish Raider set with him every night for several weeks. 

Helping him to improve his reading by using the newspaper. 

During world war two in November, 1943. He lied about his age and enlisted in the army. 

He was assigned to a veterans administration hospital in north port, New York. It was trained to work with psychiatric patients. Sidney became upset with how the hospital treated its patients in feigned mental illness to obtain a discharge. Sidney confessed to a psychologist that he was faking his condition. But the doctor was sympathetic and granted his discharge under section seven, of army regulations, six 15 dash 360, in December of 1944. After leaving the army, he worked as a dishwasher until a successful audition landed him a role in an American Negro theater production. 

The same company he failed his first audition [00:09:00] with. 

So there is a whole outstanding list. To his career that starts in the beginning to the end. I will put this link down in a description, so you can go through and read them. I do encourage you to do such. Let's talk a little bit about his board and diplomatic service. From 1995 to 2003, Sidney served as a member of the board of directors, 

of the Walt Disney company. In April of 1997, Sidney was appointed ambassador from The Bahamas to Japan, a position he hailed until 2007. From 2002. To 2007, he was concurrently the ambassador of The Bahamas. To UNESCO. 

All right, let's talk a little bit about his awards and his honor's Sidney became the first black actor to win the academy award for best actor for lilies of the field. He also received a Grammy award and golden globe awards and a British academy film award. He received [00:10:00] numerous honors doing his lifetime, including the academy honorary award for his lifetime achievement and film in 2001. 

In 92 Sidney received the AFI life achievement award. In 1994 Sidney, received a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. In 1981, he received the golden Globes, Cecil B DeMille award. And in 2016, he received the BAFTA fellowship. In 1995, Sidney received the Kennedy center honor. And in 2009, Sidney was awarded the presidential medal of freedom from Barack Obama. He was also named an honorary Knight, commander of the order of the British empire. 

By Queen Elizabeth the second in 1974. In 1986, he gave the commencement address of the university of Miami graduating class. and was given the honorary degree of doctor of fine arts. 

Unfortunately. We [00:11:00] recently lost him. On January 6th, 2022. Sidney died at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He was 94. His death was confirmed by Fred Mitchell, the minister of foreign affairs of The Bahamas. according to a copy of his death certificate the immediate cause of death was cardiopulmonary failure with Alzheimer's disease. 

And prostate cancer listed as underlying causes. 

Upon Sidney's death many released statements honoring him, including president Joe Biden, who wrote in part. With unflinching, Grandeur and poise. his singular warmth depth in stature on screen. Sidney helped open the hearts of millions and changed the way America saw itself. 

Former president Barack Obama paid tribute to Sidney, calling him a singular talent who epitomized dignity and grace. Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. I also released statements. 

Many in the entertainment industry, also a paid tribute to Sidney, including [00:12:00] Martin Scorsese, who wrote for years, the spotlight was on Sidney Poitier. He had a vocal, precision and physical power in Grace that at moment seemed almost supernatural. Harry Belafonte, Morgan Freeman, Viola Davis, 

Whoopie Goldberg, Lupita Nyong'o, Halle Berry, Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, Octavia Spencer, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Esposito, Quincy Jones, Michael Eisner and Ron Howard and others. Also paid tribute Broadway, paid tribute when it's theaters dimmed their lights on January 9th, 2022. At 7 45. PM Eastern standard time. 

All right. So that is. A little about Mr. Sidney, Poitier I grew up with this man acting. I was born in 72. So all throughout, my young childhood into the eighties and nineties. My [00:13:00] mother always had something of Sidney Poitier on T V. In the heat of the night. Was a great show, which did start, I believe in 1967, but it was still running. 

At least reruns and I was growing up. And I'll always watch that show. And always loved it. Of course.

Later on down the line in the heat of the night was remade. Which starred Howard Rollins playing the role that Sidney played, as detective Virgil Tibbs. And of course Carroll O'Connor was in that as well, and he played police chief Bill Gillespie. That remake did run on NBC from March 6 88. Until May 19th of 92. 

Then it came back on CBS from October 28th 92, and it ran until may 16 of 95. 

So I hope that you guys enjoyed learning a little bit more about the [00:14:00] great man Sidney Poitier. From all accounts, he was a nice and gentle man. All the stories I've heard from people that knew him, said anytime they would was see him, he was always smiling, always wanted to help. And that is always kind of the vibe I always got off of him. 

So may Mr. Sidney Poitier rest in peace. 

All right, guys. I thank you for joining me for yet. Another black history fact. Join me tomorrow when our have yet another one. To share with you. Also keep in mind, you can always drop us a line if you need to at a day with crime. At gmail.com. Also remember we do bring you fresh, true crime cases every Monday, the latest one matter of fact just dropped before this one, two days ago. And it was called the fall of EDP for four or five. Make sure to check that one out. 

All right guys. We'll just [00:15:00] always, I think you and be good to yourself, and and to each other. And i'm going to catch you guys on the next one