Sidney Poitier: The Great Speeches of an Icon Who Moved Us Forward

To read the words of the great actor Sidney Poitier (1927–2022) is to gain insight into his extraordinary life, his view of the world around him, and his love for family, work, and education. The speeches included here range from his brief but emotional acceptance speech as the first Black man to win an Oscar, to eulogies of his friends and colleagues, to commencement addresses, and finally, his daughter’s wedding toast. These are accompanied by photographs, a brief synopsis of the event, and sometimes his handwritten notes and corrections. Whatever the event, Poitier’s orations reflected his humble beginnings and his awareness of his place in history, often mentioning the nameless waiter who taught him to read or the policeman who, after arresting him for vagrancy, sent him to an orphanage to get out of the cold. His curiosity about the scientific world, the importance of integrity, and the role of art in society provide much of his material, and his admiration and love for his friends is evident when discussing greats such as Dorothy Dandridge, Richard Pryor, and Spencer Tracy.