How Courageous Black Storytellers Honor Sidney Poitier and Benefit From His Celebrated Legacy
And Why Their Socially Conscious Stories Matter: A Black History Month Series
We can’t appreciate the present without first honoring the past.
A few weeks ago, we lost the great Mr. Sidney Poitier. His persona of a regal Black man ushered in an era of African-American achievement in Hollywood.
Mr. Poitier accomplished what few people have.
He was a well-known and admired Bahamian-American actor, director, and diplomat.
Mr. Poitier was the first African-American and Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor.
He also won two Golden Globes, a BAFTA, and a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.
Heads of state and dignitaries recognized him for his career achievements and lifelong commitment to advancing civil rights.
Queen Elizabeth II granted him a knighthood in 1974 for his contributions to the arts.
The Kennedy Center honored him in 1985 for the pioneering impact his career had on American culture.
Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, the highest civilian honor, for his…
