Quote It Sat

Along The Way
freda's voice

"We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections."

Sidney Poitier THE MEASURE OF A MAN

THE MEASURE OF A MAN BY SIDNEY POITIER

Sidney Poitier by way of THE MEASURE OF A MAN took me to the Bahamas, Nassau, Florida, New York. I have traveled far and wide. Along the way I learned what it takes to be a professional actor. It definitely is not just going to acting school and learning a technique. After many acting jobs in theaters and elsewhere Sidney Poitier writes that he did not really become an actor until 1960. At that time he was playing the son in RAISIN IN THE SUN.

Like any humble gentleman Sidney Poitier has not forgotten where he came from, his beginnings. He describes his growing up years on the Bahamas islands. Don't talk about poverty until you've read this book. It is amazing how this man made it from there to where he is today. He must have true grit. This is an honest book about what it takes to be called a man. His father taught him what it takes not to be just macho but to have the true character of a man. "The measure of a man is how well he provides for his children." It is wondrous to read about his respect for his parents. So often readers only read about the deeds of bad parents or what is perceived as the horrible misdeeds of parents.

Also, Sidney Poitier is deeply philosophical. Still, his ideas, thoughts, theories are simple to understand.  I chumped on this one for a few days. "After eight years of struggle I was able to return to my father's house but in certain ways I was never able to go back home." Isn't that a fascinating thought? I think so. It is impossible to know what he means personally until reading the book.

His autobiography, of course, gives an inside view of the movie world, the movie actors and actresses. I especially enjoyed reading his thoughts about THE DEFIANT ONES. I did not see the movie. By the way, if you haven't seen Mr. Poitier's plays or movies you will still enjoy reading about these star studded shows. Tony Curtis starred with Mr. Poitier in the above mentioned movie. I now want to see the movie. It's about the struggles between a black and white man on a chain gang. The two men are bound together and can't get away from one another. What were they like in the beginning of their journey? What did these two men become? How should the movie have ended? Was the given ending the right one? These answers are given by Sidney Poitier in the book along with many other thoughts about A Patch of Blue, Guess Who's Coming Together and other movies.

I hated for this autobiography to end. I wish he would write Part II. I'm sure he has more to write about what it takes to be a man in a world that is so complex.