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  • Sidney Poitier has really represented the Bahamas well.

  • 18 ppl will nvr get any Honorary metal of any kind

  • Obviously back then Blacks weren't given the recognition until Sidney came along. He was the man that got things rolling for the Black actor. Now you have people like Jaime Foxx, or Denzel, or even Morgan Freeman who can be recognized as an accomplished actor and it all started thanks to Sidney.

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  • This is what makes a 'decent human-being.' It has nothing to do with race, creed, or religion. It's simply the amount of effort that you contribute to the success of future generations. People will always fade into history... but legacies live forever.

  • This is what makes a 'decent human-being.' It has nothing to do with race, creed, or religion. It's simply the amount of effort that you contribute to the success of future generations. People will ways fade into history... but legacies live forever.

  • Class act.  Through and through.

  • Sidney is the man

  • Hey check out Denzel..oouh! And here comes Sidney..aahh!

  • I embarrasses me that my generation that more people know more Paris Hilton than Sidney Poitier.

  • big yawwnnn... he puts to sleep this guy

  • @neckojezioro123 Shut up you disrespectful idiot.

  • The DISLIKE button should be banned for this video

  • Wow, just Wow. This is a great Man.

  • @sersame that is true and i totally agree but unfortunately we live in a society where our skin color has been instituionalized to define what we are. It is an aritfical system that is easy to break but people themselves need to look beyond the skin color and see the person from within. Unfortunately there have been people who still hold on to those beleifs. Sidney redefine what that means talent, class and dignity has not color it comes from within you.

  • The world thanks you Sidney Poitier...it is indeed...To Sir With Love

  • I wish Denzel's entire introduction was included here

  • What a class act

  • When Sidney Poitier speaks people listen. Legend.

  • a very very good actor indeed. And a very good speech.

  • Honorable indeed. Everything about this man is honorable. What a name, what a voice, what a talent, what a classy gentleman. One of the very few remaining real men alive. God bless you mr Poitier. You're one in a million.

  • I want to see Sydney Poitier acting the baddie for a change. But maybe it will never happen because of his status as an artistic and social icon . Shame, at the end of the day he is an actor, and one of the very best.

  • I hope the world watches this. More than just a skin color is a human being. Judging a person by the skin color, the country he's from or even the language he speaks is not human; is sick, cruel and retarded. I cant stand a "person" calling "niggers" "rednecks" "wetbacks" to somebody who's diferent from him. I really hope this ends soon, cause everybody has the right to be free and respected as a human being, just like this wonderful actor here.

  • A great, great, great man

  • The hairs on my arm and the back of my neck stood up for more than seven minutes! Sidney is no doubt brilliant!

  • Now that's a speech...

  • GOD Bless!

  • What I remeber about Sydney Poitier 's way to play is that all the emotions who danced into his eyes.

  • Fitting, a great black actor like Denzel, introducing a legendary black actor like Sidney Poitier.

  • @ARSONISTJOE I agree w/ all you said but I would take out the words "Black"... He's a Legendary actor... period.

  • @ARSONISTJOE and Denzel would eventually win Best Actor in the same evening!

  • whoa talk about taking the high road, definitively a great speech from an original icon from genuine humble beginnings, just fabulous :)

  • A gentlemen....his behavior is a lesson to us all men.

  • 18 people must not know real epicness when they see it

  • a legend!!!

  • Humility is personified by Sidney. What an elegant man he is.

  • Wow only a King could speak such words of healing and unity. A King who rules with the utmost of kindness and humility, we love you Mr. Poitier! :-) And I hope you like my song.

  • Dignified.

    

  • Impressive!

  • He might not be the but he certainly is a god of gracious manner..

  • great man

  • Notice......He did not make 1 bobble, 1 mistake in that entire speech, it was like taking a walk for him, or eating a pretzel. This is an example of someone that truly found their calling, took hold of it, and owned it. He polished his craft to the best of his God given ability, and this is why he is and shall remain, one of the best examples of what hard work, dedication and survival can accomplish, and he was gracious enough to acknowledge the brave souls that helped him get there. Classic.

  • I dont think ANYONE can picture what he had to go through in his early years on Hollywood, and yet he overcomes all obstacles and delivers this almost Shakesperean speech and has the entire audience in the palm of his hand.

    NOONE deserved this honour, more than you Sir Sidney Poitier. :´-)

  • Now that is how you deliver a THANK YOU speach!!!

  • 1:32 whould be a good tshirt background

  • Check out Gary Mitchell Sidney Poitier Monologue... Thnx

  • I remember the first time I watched this very powerful speech I cried like a baby at what he had to say, and what he and others had to go through... there are countless book written about these peoples early struggles in white America, and sadly there still going on, but this moment he showed that there are people that were willing to change and was one of the best moments in Oscar history...

  • What a great, inspirational, amazing man. My love for Sidney Poitier can not be expressed in words. His work has changed acting and cinema for ever, and he is one of the best of all time. I'm practically crying as I right this. 

  • what an inspiration!!

  • We LOVE you, Sir Sidney!

  • @OliverTwisted01 He is & will be the honorary curtain of moral & principles of any actor in Hollywood.

  • The late Director Robert Altman looked very guilty at 4:42. He like other Caucasian directors and producers never cast blacks in their films. Those who chose discriminate due to generations of ignorance and prejudice need a good slap of morality.

  • I don't know any other actor with as much integrity and honour as this man

  • This man personifies dignity.

  • No words describe such a moment or an actor excuse me ARTIST, Does anyone know who the beauty is 2:16 ?

  • @uubnex4 the speech he gave came from somewhere deep inside, so its great indeed. and the beauty you asked about is marisa tomei.

  • @uubnex4 marisa tomei.

  • hALLE bERRY cRIED a lITTLE

  • @RiverLandPark Pahaha you should see her oscar win :)

  • its nice to hear someone thanking his fans the audience. it rarely happens, they usually thank family, managers, directors etc. Class act, that was well said

  • where is Eddie Murph, man?!?!

    where is that bitch

  • No disrespect to Morgan Freeman, but I truly think this man would have made a better Mandela

  • @AxonMoses he actually did play mandela in Madela and de Klerk in 1997

  • @AxonMoses Agreed. He would have been PERFECT as Mandela

  • it's really absurd that we can't see the video tributes.

  • Thank You, Mr. Poitier. :)

  • WOW people are almost in tears, look at Julia Roberts at 3:46...GREAT SPEECH!!

  • GOD BLESS YOU SIDNEY-THANKS FOR MAKING US PROUD-WE LOVE MAN

  • They call me Mr Tibbs.

  • This was such a great moment. When you think of everything he had to overcome and the pathway he paved for those behind him, it's an incredible and inspiring moment. I love this video.

  • Cheers, Sid.

  • sidney is a freakin racist, dude

  • can you be more of a class act? a classy speech.

  • There are very few individuals that just radiate class and intelligence like Sidney Poitier

  • the measure of a man

  • Stunning speech!

  • 10 points to Griffindor Poiter.

  • What a speech... nevr heard such a movin words.... anyone who as a heart will be battling 2 control their tears... n look at the audience all doing the same......

  • amazing speech

  • amazing speech,

  • bravo

  • what year was this?

  • im speachless

  • just think its funny that they keep filming the other black actors in the audience...

  • @ceclovitch Many probably wouldn't be where they are now if he hadn't paved the way....

  • 'To Sir With Love ...

  • I like how he mostly used the word 'actor' & 'producer' & film maker, instead of modifying it with black this or white that; because he sees the humanity of the person as the most important common thing to be recognized. Skin color should be a minor difference in comparison of the commonality of the human condition we all share. He is a shining example of a human being. =)

  • @sersame absolutely

  • @sersame that is true and i totally agree but unfortunately we live in a society where our skin color has been instituionalized to define what we are. It is an aritfical system that is easy to break but people themselves need to look beyond the skin color and see the person from within. Unfortunately there have been people who still hold on to those beleifs. Sidney redefine what that means talent, class and dignity has not color it comes from within you.

  • I'm a young African-American actor and everytime I see this man or hear what he has to say, I feel like crying because it's just so profound. Great speech

  • @MrArob29 I WATCHED SIDNEY POITIER IN MOVIES AS A CHILD-HE ALWAYS MADE BE VERY PROUD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN-HE HAD A SMILE THAT CAME DEEP FROM INSIDE A SOUL-HE PAVED THE WAY WITH PRIDE AND DIGINITY FOR OTHER AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO CAME BEHIND HIM-HE IS TRULY A ROLE MODEL-WE WERE TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE HIM REPRESENT US-WHAT A CLASS ACT HE WAS

  • 6:48 That look says everything ,about this wonderfull speech

  • what a beautiful and dignified speech. I don't think I've ever heard a speech that beats this one. A classy man.

  • This speech makes me want to cry. A real class act!

  • Is he the leader of the crips or the bloods? I forget.

  • @GhostOfBugsy You are disgusting

  • @GhostOfBugsy No, actually he's the recipient of two more Academy Award than you have.

  • @GhostOfBugsy What's sad is that you actually think you're funny, don't you?

  • @GhostOfBugsy What's sad is that you actually think you're funny, don't you? How racist was that?

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  • Wonderful Man! xoxox

  • didnt this guy marry white women..

    There goes his credibility - the sell out

  • There are not words to describe Sidney Poitier! A class act!

  • wow, that makes me speechless...

  • I am doing a history report on him. HE IS SO GREAT!

  • Black Jesus

  • @iJAEHCE jesus wasn't white, how can a white man survive in Jerusalem 

  • Very Very well deserve Oscar for him , he was and remain a example not only for the movies industry, ..but for the world for his courage and his struggles againt racism and againt,... so much more!

  • 18 people must hate black actors.

  • That was BEAUTIFUL. Hands down..........Best Acceptance speech ever. Not just the Oscars...EVER!!!

  • Sidney Poitier = Classy.

  • beautiful !

  • This man was a poet

  • Respect pour ce grand homme et cet acteur merveilleux.

    gfeldred

  • wow...

  • that's class!! Respect!

  • When Sydney started dedicating his award with "....the late...", damn, that really shook my heart. And look at audience! they can't believe it. They are shocked to hear that all his dear friends have come to pass. BEST SPEECH OF ALL TIME.

  • Tear Jerking . . . Beautiful . . . Inspriational . . . .Real . . . . . I am thankful & truely grateful for the African Americans who have paved the way for others & for the time i've come up in. We no longer have to struggle as bad in this country! Most of all i thank God!! For EVERYTHING!!!!!!! For my life & For my strength! I could go on and on about how Grateful i am that God placed people like Sidney in this world and all the others who have struggled to pave the way for African Americans :)

  • He paved the way for so many. Thankyou Mr.Poitier.

  • I agree with ceclovitch. Poitier is a legend, an amazing actor that probably has gone through a lot to get at the top, but by laying the emphasis on the fact that he's black is demeaning I feel, and doesn't do him justice. I think he considers himself an actor, not a black actor at first. As long as people are going to emphasize the fact he's black they're not getting anywhere. People are just people, I don't consider myself white, and yeah maybe it's easier for me to say this but still

  • @TheMariacarla1 THE REASON PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE FACT THE SIDENY POITIER IS BLACK-IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN SIDNEY WAS DOING MOVIES-BLACKS DID NOT GET LEADING ROLES-IF WAS VERY RARE-HE IS THE JACKIE ROBINSON OF ACTING

  • I love this man!! What a Great speech!

  • sorry, but isnt it so funny that they keep filming all the black people in the audience, like only they like Sidney, america seems so segregated still...

  • @ceclovitch ..... Sidneys whole life paved the way for black actors everywhere. Its for emphasis methinks...

  • @ceclovitch You are an absolute incompetent, heartless, racially divisive human individual who couldn't look at the whole entire picture for what it is, but instead placed on both your eyes beer goggles to spot only what attracted you the most. Come on, did you not see "Pretty Woman" star Julia Roberts, there was even the gladiator Russell Crowe. The list goes on and on. It wasn't just Will and Jada Smith, Denzel Washington in the crowed. Sheesh!

  • @ceclovitch you are so STUPID. The reason cameras were being pointed at BLACK ACTORS during this speech is to show the effect his career has had on them dumbass. Would you rather see the camera point to the disappointing faces of some of the white actors who clearly still have racist blood in them? Apparently you do based on that dumbass post.

  • how can anybody not like this?

  • Dude, Sidneys whole life was a civil rights movement. You obviously know nothing about him or his work. You're mad because he made it, "A black thing." However, thats not it at all. He is speaking about struggles that he went through that you could not even fathom. He broke grounds for not only black actors but WHITE actors. He won this honorary award for doing so & overcoming the struggles of racism. He's reading his speech because he has a lot to say. HE'S DONE A LOT. oh, & I'm white so stfu

  • @CurtisDoverY0 oh, your comment is absolutly beautiful and so true!

  • @CurtisDoverY0 well spoken!

  • @CurtisDoverY0 Well said.

  • @CurtisDoverY0 Now why can more white people like you exist? because you were right on point!!!

  • @CurtisDoverY0 yea, i hate it when people say its a race thing. sidney poitier helped actors of all races, without sidney poitier there would be no bruce lee, no icons like that.

  • @CurtisDoverY0 yesssssssssss you are speaking the truth!

  • @CurtisDoverY0 nicely said..

  • my god he looks the same as he did in "little nikkita"

  • calm down buddy

  • lol he would marry a white woman. so much for being a black leader and role model. lmfao

  • @getlikemc Sidney Poitier was all about the abolition of color lines. Wouldn't it be contradictory then if he were to eliminate a potential life partner on the basis of her race?

  • Ok..i have to now get approval from google to express my opinions? well let me give a direct statement to the "approval snot nose commitee" you fuckers are going down..your days are numbered..we the people are going to make sure that corp. like google and wall street will not or never take over our minds..you will fall by the way side to new and free thinking internet..YOU ARE OBSOLETE

  • @Piggreenbag You do know that it's the video uploader, not Google, not a greedy corporate hog, not corporate America, which is screening posts on this video, right? In the timeless, sage words of Homer Simpson - "Doh!"

  • I just try to post a not so favorable post twice now..both have been censored and up for review..

  • Now youtube is censoring coments..youtube will die out..wikileaks and the like will take over the corporate one world censorship..

  • This is a political BS speech..he should have come out and spoken from his heart instead of reading a tellipromter..no were near the greats like Cary Grant life time..or Jimmy Stuwart..he had to make it a black thing..like his whole career was a civil rights movement..give me a break..our nation has relented so far to the left that even most young white people are talking like they come from the getto and act like fuckin thugs..so excuse me if i dont get all teared eyed.

  • @Piggreenbag god you are one dumb nigger aren't you? go back to europe. it's niggers like you that are destroying this country.

  • @Piggreenbag,Spoken like one who has absolutely no clue. Well done, for surpassing the ceiling of ignorance.

  • @Piggreenbag lol loser ha!

  • @Piggreenbag = another jealous individual with no intellect.

  • A class act. I salute you, Mr. Poitier!

  • he's one of the bravest and strongest men i've ever seen. he diserves the honorary oscar so much!

    thank you, Sir Sidney Poitier!

  • @44eelz I believe they are his daughters and the white lady is his wife.

  • I wish I'd had a Father like him. Pure class. A maverick.

  • who are those fine women at 0:35???

  • @44eelz the white women is his wife of almost 30 years Joanna (ain't that a coincidence) and the rest of the women are his children.

  • @44eelz lol two of Mr. Poitier's daughters

  • @44eelz his wife and his daughters :)

  • @44eelz his daughters and wife

  • Most Wonderful and moving speech EVER!!!

  • i wish he wasn;t reading off a vidioprinter

  • @1Cocknose1 he probably made his speech though, if i had those kinds of words implanted into my mind, i wouldn't want them to be forgotten and/or messed up lol :P

  • by the way, everyone has got teary eyes - it's wonderful how that great man is touching every single one of them!

  • yeah, sidney really is a great, legendary actor!

    beautiful man!

  • He is from my island...the Bahamas!!! 

  • WOW he pulled everyone in that speech was the stuff of legend

  • GREAT RESPECT FOR THIS WONDERFUL MAN FROM FRANCE :)

  • This is man that every one can respect and admire. There is not many celebrities we can say that about today.

  • reese witherspoon looks like she just fell in love at 4:43

  • Sidney the most greatest o/

  • Is an icon for a lot of people!!!!...That masterpiece movie called IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT says everything.....He open a lot of doors for a lot of african-american people..

  • i really enjoyed his speech. it was serious, passionate, and admirable. He's a true academy award winner in my own opinion

  • now this is a fucking speech!

  • @GeGeMus12 u r so fucking stupid

  • Sidney's the kind of person that when he talks, the world listens.

  • They call me Mr Tibbs.What an actor

  • I have never seen a Poitier film that he did not literally steal the picture, stole it away from the likes of Hepburn, Tracy, Steiger...what skin color? It simply did not exist with Sidney, only brilliance, humor, talent, genius at his craft like so many before and after. He deserved this award and more, he is loved by all.

  • legend!

  • You cannot get any better than Mr. Poitier - I grew up in the 60's when a black man was a risk for film - he is truly an icon and an American Leading Man - I am so thankful that cinema has evolved to appreciate this amazing thespian and his brave push to allow a gateway for our fine African-American actors - God Bless you Mr. Poitier...

  • such a classy man... you can see the respect and the inspiration coming from the audience's eyes just by listening to Mr. Poitier's words

  • this is such a sad sad situation with black ppl and white ppl all over the world. why do people treat each other like this? even in their own continent you ll find chinese ppl hating japanese ppl, why are we like this? i wish there was a way to suppress the footprint of older generations, so that maybe we can all start over clean!

  • This was only given to him because white Hollywood realised how much they fucked over black actors for so long.

    Imagine Halle Berry and Denzel only won Oscars for leading roles after being dysfunctional. Halle had to do a 5 minute porno and Denzel had to be a dirty cop.

  • What a class act!!!!