My father was a certain kind of man - I saw how he treated my mother and his family and how he treated strangers. And I vowed I would never make a film that would not reflect properly on my father's name.
Sidney PoitierRead
I never had an occasion to question color, therefore, I only saw myself as what I was... a human being.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote conveys the idea that true identity transcends racial and color differences.
Sidney Poitier's quote reflects a profound understanding of humanity, suggesting that he never allowed the concept of color to define his identity. Instead, he emphasizes a universal recognition of his humanity, indicating that the essence of a person lies beyond race or superficial distinctions.
Themes
IdentityHumanityRaceColorEquality
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on diversity and inclusion, this quote could emphasize the importance of seeing beyond race.
More from Sidney Poitier
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I wanted to explore the values that are at work, underpinning my life.
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We suffer pain, we hang tight to hope, we nurture expectations, we are plagued occasionally by fears, we are haunted by defeats and unrealized hopes . . . The hoplessness of which I speak is not limited.
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We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections.
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I was the only Black person on the set. It was unusual for me to be in a circumstance in which every move I made was tantamount to representation of 18 million people.
Sidney PoitierRead
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