Dear Mr. Poitier,

Every time I saw you on screen, I was focused on your calm, your intensity and your grace. You carried the weight of the Black community on your shoulders everyday. Did you know that you were destined for greatness when you were in acting classes? You were the great uncle that I never knew, but earnestly watched from afar. Watching you grow and change in every role on stage and screen.

From Lysistrata to Blackboard Jungle, The Defiant Ones, Raisin in the Sun, Porgy and Bess, Lillies of the Field and In the Heat of the Night; your command of the work was intricate, dynamic and stellar. It was a masterclass in acting and you made it seem effortless. I always envisioned you throughout the years smiling in your dressing room knowing that you were again paving the way for the Negro now African-Americans actors in Hollywood. It was an honor to view your body of work.

Condolences to your family and friends. Rest in power and in peace.