THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
Arts & Entertainment
January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022 • 15
Pg. 18
Film/TV page 15 | Theater page 16 | Food page 20 | Jazz page 21
To Sidney Poitier, with Love! By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews
reached out to me immediately was legendary actor Count Stovall. He sent this tribute: “To Sir Sidney Poitier with love: Yesterday I had a unique experience. I watched two wonderful Sidney Poitier films that I had never seen before—‘Brother John’ (1971) and ‘The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn’ (1999). I enjoyed them immensely. Firstly, it’s been years since I was able to watch what was for me a new Sidney Poitier film; lastly, I had never seen two more beautifully performed films by Sir Sidney Poitier. And today I topped off this great experience by seeing the CBS Sunday Morning’s story about the great man. It brought me to tears. The man gave me a sense of personal power. It took me over 50 years to completely appreciate this giant of a man. His artistry so enabled me to see myself as a strong, capable man. Oh yes, we raced to the cinema to see the latest Sidney Poitier film. But I never knew that I was—for the duration of my life until reaching my 70s and after having read two autobiographies by this man—able to fully digest his impact on me as an artist, a man and a human being and yes, Mr. Poitier explained my life’s potential as a man of color. He was right. He demonstrated a code of conduct to me both as an artist, and as a man living in the duplicitous world of America. His example has given me tremendously rewarding insights. Sir Sidney Poitier lived an amazingly effective life of service. He embodied eloquence and versatility as a performer, a director and a writer. All I can say is thank you. I had the great good fortune to meet him on several occasions and to be friends and a colleague of his beautiful talented daughter Pamela Poitier.” Tony Award winning director Kenny Leon said of Poitier, “He opened the door and set the table for all of us…The father of American storytelling whom all artists (Joyce Sylvester photo)
Elizabeth in 1974. Poitier was a New York City. Prior to finding out to your creative contribution to the man of many talents: in addi- about an audition at the Ameri- enhancement of the creative arts… tion to being a brilliant actor and can Negro Theater (through the The world has seen who you are I was at home that Friday morn- writer, he was also a director and pages of the New York Amster- and how you continue to enrich ing when I heard the news that civil rights activist. Poitier partici- dam News, I might add), Poitier the world of the creative arts. Sidney Poitier had passed away pated in the March on Washing- lied about his age in 1943 and en- Congratulations.” His daughter, Thursday, Jan. 6, in his home in ton and spoke out for civil rights. listed in the Army. He served as Pamela Poitier, was there to accept the Bahamas. He was 94 years old. I fondly recall going to the open- an orderly with the 1267th Med- the award for her father, which was The Bahamian American actor ing night of “Motown: The Mu- ical Detachment at a veteran’s presented by Glynn Turman. was the youngest of seven children for Evelyn Poitier and Reginald James Poitier, tomato farmers on Cat Island. The sadness I felt was deep! This was a man whose work I had seen all my life and whose work I had loved and admired. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched, “Lilies of the Field,” the film that earned him his first Academy Award in 1964, making him the first Black man to receive the Best Actor honor. I also loved him in “In The Heat of the Night,” “A Raisin In The Sun,” “To Sir With Love,” “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” “The Defiant Ones,” and “A Patch of Blue.” Poitier made 56 films in Douglas Turner Ward, Woodie King Jr. and Sidney Poitier at New Federal Theatre’s 30th anniversary in 2001 this lifetime. He said in a past interview on “The Oprah sical” on Broadway in 2013 and hospital on Long Island. RealizWoodie King Jr., describing what Winfrey Show” shown on Sunday, looking up while in the lobby ing this wasn’t what he wanted, Sidney Poitier meant to him said, “My work has been representative and seeing the dashing 6 ft. 2 in. he faked a mental disorder and “He meant that I could work and of me as a man. And the values are Poitier standing before me. I was received a discharge in 1945. integrate into this place called the what I carry over from my parents.” overjoyed and quickly but re- Once discharged he returned to American theater. I started off in He was an actor who made us all spectfully approached him, intro- New York City. It is interesting to theater in Detroit, went to drama proud and opened doors for so duced myself and asked if I could note that Sidney Poitier was led to school, got a grant to the American many people. He was also some- interview him about the musi- his first theater experience at the Place Theatre in New York where one who chose his roles carefully, cal for the Amsterdam News. He American Negro Theater by read- I got to work with Sidney Poitier’s always making sure not to take on told me he needed a minute, but ing the Amsterdam News, where director for ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ demeaning roles. to wait there and that he would be he saw an ad that the American Lloyd Richards. From there I got a Poitier was a writer, having cre- right back. I waited a few moments Negro Theater was looking for job in the Poverty program. I was ated the books “The Measure of and he returned, and in a very soft actors. It truly is a small world. with Mobilization for Youth on the a Man: A Spiritual Autobiogra- voice shared his appreciation for What is always beautiful about East Side, training young people in phy” and “Life Beyond Measure: the musical and what it meant to our treasured icons like Sidney acting and how to be noted and reLetters to my Great Granddaugh- have this musical about the Black Poitier, is that when they are hon- spected. Sidney Poitier’s influence ter.” These two books also won artists from Motown and to hear ored by others, they tend to not was a part of that program from him Grammy Awards for Spoken the music on Broadway. When only be humble, but they sing the day one, that’s what he meant to Word Albums. He won three I requested a photo with him he praises of those honoring them. me. Everything that I did in that Golden Globe Awards, one for smiled and agreed. That is one of This is what Poitier did in 2011 at program was emulating Sidney “Lilies of the Field.” He received my prized possessions, and hangs the 40th anniversary of the New Poitier. I had been exposed to his the Screen Actor Guild Life proudly on my living room wall! Federal Theatre as Woodie King work and read about how he startAchievement Award; President Poitier’s roots were in theater: Jr. honored him. He appeared in a ed,” King shared. Barack Obama awarded him the he got his start with the Ameri- video message to King and shared Poitier’s passing causes one to Medal of Freedom; and Sir Sidney can Negro Theater as a teenag- these words: “Woodie, you are reflect on the impact he had on Poitier was knighted by Queen er, struggling to make a career in destined to go down in history as their lives. One such person who
Your Stars
See LINDA on page 17
