Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year falls in the shadow of the death of Sidney Poitier. Reading the many essays written about this great American actor reveals the complex nature of race in American history. Poitier’s career was clearly both a victory of American equality and a revelation of its enduring challenges. He often chose parts that reflected that complexity. He was the Black man who surprised the family of his white wife during a time when interracial marriages were rare in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” He starred in “A Raisin in the Sun,” the film adaptation of the Lorraine Hansberry play that depicted the challenges facing an upwardly mobile Black family as they dealt with housing discrimination, racism, and the desire of many Black people to assimilate into white society. His remarkable success was due as much to his own talent as it was to the support of the many Jews who intersected with his career in Hollywood.
Astoundingly, this great actor didn’t learn to read well until he was 15 and had moved to America. There, working as a busboy in a New York City restaurant, he met an elderly Jewish waiter. Noticing that Poitier struggled to read the most basic words, the gentleman and the new immigrant spent weeks together improving Poitier’s skills. He credits this man as his first mentor who gave him the skills to read the scripts that would change his life.
Few of his movies would have seen the light of day were it not for the boldness of many production studios where Jews were notably directors, funders, and even fellow actors. One of our own fellow Wise members (of blessed memory) was Poitier’s business manager and established a long working relationship that benefited them both.
When we contemplate the history of Blacks and Jews in America, we see much to admire, as both communities, often bearing the brunt of white American xenophobia, found common purpose in ways that ultimately built a more just and equitable society.
— Rabbi Ron Stern