Legendary actor Sidney Poiter's 2005 autobiography was an enjoyable read. It was smart, insightful, imaginative, relatable and needed. Whether read in the year first published or in 2026 as I have, the human issues it touches on while reviewing life after 70 years leaves an impression on readers. It begs the question; how do you measure up to your own expectations of what it is to be a man?
This autobiography from a dignified negro man who succeeded in making his mark in a society reluctant and restrictive toward negroes, while at the same time keeping true to his core self, is a feat of accomplishment that screams the quality we call "Integrity."
Integrity: It involves honesty, trustworthiness, and being "whole" (undivided) in one's character, ensuring actions align with values, even under difficult circumstances.
I never knew much about Sidney Poitier other than watching him in a wide range of movie genres. It seemed to me he always brought a bit of himself to the role he'd play, like a Denzel or Pacino. Yes, whether playing a doctor, lawyer, convict or thief, he was convincing in the role. And yet, the audience almost always seemed to side with him, because he was Sidney Poitier, a man with good intentions.
And so, it was very rewarding to hear the man himself confirm what I believed he represented onscreen as part(s) of who he really was and what made him so. From humble beginnings on Cat Island, Bahamas, a financially meager upbringing never seemed so important to overall human accomplishment as in the success of Sidney Poitier. To be told you can't become something and to prove them wrong. More importantly, to prove to yourself you can become something is exactly what this man did. And the world has benefitted considerably from his talent and influence.
Once I started reading, I knew this book would be important to me. Perhaps it was the familiar innocent childhood thoughts of his isolated/island world, or the racial disparity so recognizable to any adult of color in Western society. Or perhaps being familiar with his movies and the social and political upheaval of the eras they were produced. But mostly, I believe it was hearing that familiar, dignified voice talking to you, as if he himself were sitting across from you sharing his measure of himself as a man and how he arrived at becoming Sidney Poitier. You Follow?
This is a book I immediately began telling family and friends about. Full of life lessons and truths about our society then and now. It also reminded me of great actors, movies, and music I'd grown up watching and listening to. And although the song is not mentioned in the book, Nassau, Bahamas is, bringing to mind a 1971 song titled "Funky Nassau." Mr. Tibbs, for that personal memory I have to go five stars on "The Measure of a Man." You Digg?
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