Sidney Poitier: Father Poor Man

Posted by admin on Friday, January 7, 2022

Sidney Poitier Money Quote saying his father was from the Bahamas and struggled financially to run a tomato farm. Sidney Poitier said:
 

 

“My father was a poor man, very poor in a British colonial possession where class and race were very important” — Sidney Poitier

 

 

In this quote, Sidney Poitier is reflecting on his humble origins and the social barriers that existed where he grew up. Specifically:

• Poitier states his father was a “very poor” man, lacking economic resources and social standing.
• He notes this was within the context of a “British colonial possession”, implying the added layers of colonial rule and racial hierarchies.
• Poitier directly points out that in the society he came from, “class and race were very important” – suggesting both factors severely limited opportunities and acceptance for those at the bottom like his low-income father.

The best interpretation is that Poitier is conveying how he faced disadvantages from a young age due to his family’s poverty in a society defined by rigid class and racial divisions that compounded the challenges of their financial circumstances according to his recollections. The quote provides context about the obstacles Poitier encountered early in life based on his background and environment.

Birthday: February 20, 1927 – Death: January 6, 2022