I'm going to present some comments and links to two of Sidney Poitier's movies that
affected me. It's always sad for me when an artist who has become an icon passes
but as in so many cases, we have video, we have audio, we have text that tells us that the certain person we admire will truly live on and on.
I once made the comment here on DU that Sidney Poitier was born in the Caribbean
and grew up there. So did Harry Belafonte. And by extension we can include Cicely
Tyson since she was born in Harlem but the first generation of her family born in the U.S. Her parents came from The Islands and doubtless shaped Cicely's life with the same Island Attitude we find and admire in persons who were not subjected to the ethnic bigotry in their early lives that is so prevalent here on U.S. soil.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guess_Who%27s_Coming_to_Dinner
This movie has had a big effect on my life. The one scene I remember clearly is where
Sidney is talking to his father and explains their generational differences by saying "You
think of yourself as A Black Man. I think of myself as A Man." Those are powerful words, words to remember.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_and_the_Preacher
This movie is a two-fer since it stars Sidney and Harry Belafonte as co-stars
portraying protagonists in the film who support the plight of Black migrants searching
for a better life. Harry is still living but his life is worthy of study also. This movie is
very entertaining and very instructive.
I've enjoyed both of these movies many times. Yes, there are many other films and
speeches and much information is available at the links. These people that we've admired are not gone and not forgotten. They're only a keystroke or channel selection
away as long as we want to remember.
= new reply since forum marked as read
... and probably anybody under 40 has never seen them.
My favorite Poitier movie was the first time I ever saw him ... in "Lilies of the Field."
