Well-known Bahamian-American actor, film director, and diplomat Sidney Poiter passed away on January 6th this year. He is known for many movies, most notably and famously A Raisin in the Sun, which some say made his name in Hollywood.

He was the first black actor to receive the Academy Award for lead actor. Poitier broke segregation barriers at the time, becoming the first African-American in a leading role, and went on to win an Academy Award for Best Actor  Other awards he received throughout  his career include:

• NAACP Image Award
• Academy Honorary Award
• Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word
• BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor
• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Director

Sidney Poitier is famous for breaking boundaries while offering wise advice while doing so.  He once was quoted as saying, “I never had an occasion to question color, therefore, I only saw myself as what I was… a human being.” As well as “I’d seen my father. He was a poor man, and I watched him do astonishing things.” These quotes are centered around something usually not seen in a Hollywood setting. Poitier discussed racism, an extreme human rights issue that harms people of color over the whole world. .

Sidney Poitier overcame some of the harshest obstacles to go on and achieve wonderful things in his life. He was an outstanding actor who gained respect, honor, and countless awards. He isn’t one to simply forget about after death, he is to be remembered and honored for his legacy, dedication, talent, and will-power.