Sydney Poitier is gone.
A legend who dazzled on stage & screen with class, charm & fire as the dominant traits that defined his performances. He portrayed men that until that era had never been seen on camera before. His movies of the 50s and 60s were touchstones for generations of Americans, but particularly those in that time when the nation was struggling to navigate social & racial inequality as the rest of the world watched. Because information access wasn’t globally simple like it is today, these films were a revelation for all who saw them, regardless of the viewer’s racial identity or where in the world they were. They were challenging, complex stories made especially powerful because of what Mr. Poitier did as Virgil Tibbs, John Prentice, Mark Thackeray, Walter Lee Younger & others.
Mr. Poitier’s performances echoed the voice of Pan-Africans everywhere. His roles embodied all we sought to be recognized as & for both then & now. His films were often about the Black experience in America, but the broader picture was so much more than just one nation. No wonder his work is still captivating today.
Yes, it’s a long list of prominent voices alongside Mr. Poitier’s from that time: Cicely Tyson, Ben Vereen, Aretha Franklin, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King & so many others. But I’m willing to bet Mr. Poitier alone was the reason for so many of the great writers, filmmakers & thespians of color we have seen emerge in the decades since & are now seeing in greater numbers than ever before.
Admittedly, I have seen only a limited number of Mr. Poitier’s films. But make no mistake, what I’ve seen is in no small way why I too aspired to become a creative in this industry.
It’s an honor to work amongst the droves of outstanding voices getting their chance to tell their stories & strive to create change in their own ways because of the trail Sydney helped blaze.
Thank you Mr. Poitier.
To Sir, With Love.