Why is Sidney poitier important?

Answer 1

Sidney Poitier is primarily famous for being one of the first of few African American men to have significant leading roles in films. Most of the films that he is known for doing involved story-lines that approached the problem of racial tension in America's society. For example "No Way Out" (1950), starred him as a black Doctor Who had to provide service to a white bigot; "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967) in which he played a black man who was engaged with a white woman and how meeting her family went; and "In the Heat of the Night" (1967) in which he played a black detective that had to investigate a murder in a racist southern town. Other than these movies, he also was involved with creating a series of classic blaxploitation films that co-starred he and Bill Cosby throughout the 1970s ("Uptown Saturday Night," "A Piece of the Action," "Let's Do It Again"). Another blaxploitation film that he made in the seventies that I believe is highly underrated is "Buck and the Preacher," which starred not only Poitier, but Ruby Dee and Harry Belafonte. I think that this movie is ground breaking because it's one of the few movies that exist that tell an "Old West" story from the perspective of black characters. In general, Poitier should be credited with breaking down racial barriers in Hollywood cinema based on these different roles he's played.

Answer 2

Sidney Poitier became the first black Academy Award winner in 1964

Answer 3

I guess when he got voted Most Popular Movie Star in America.

P.S Don't Judge me. ^.^