SIDNEY POITIER: Blessings From 'The Almighty O'

1. The man is great and articulate and if he writes as well as he speaks the book is great.He has been like with Joanna for years before marriage and now.When the times were lean and now.So what.Give the man his due

Annie at 2:05AM on Feb 7th 2007

2. re:

"I don't know why any black american woman would want to promote the book of a man who ignores the greatest black america man that ever lived - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but applauds nelson mandela and even mahtma ghandi.

Furthermore he has done nothing but use black american women and now he's using her. And she calls him a great man. Sad Sad"

Wikipedia doesn't offer any reference to a rift between Dr. King and Poitier and lists only two marriages to the actor. Regardless, is it beyond thought to consider that Oprah recognizing Poitier's book on her club listing is perhaps reciprocal so far as "using" is concerned?

I'd say that Oprah gets just as much good will and limelight as Poitier for her seemingly generous action. Some might call it calculating. Oprah is a genius - no doubt and no argument there.

Jamar at 8:47AM on Feb 10th 2007

3. I READ HIS BOOK THIS LIFE MANY YEARS AGO HE IS A GREAT WRITER AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THIS BOOK SIDNEY POITIER IS ONE OF THE GREATS I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST

GUY MAYNARD at 10:36AM on Feb 10th 2007

4. SIDNEY POITIER IS ONE OF THE VERY VERY BEST!! I HAD MEET HIM A FEW TIMES YEARS AGO HE WAS ALWAYS NICE HE SPOKE TO EVERYONE THAT PASSED BY.. MAY THE GOD'S BE ALWAYS GOOD TO HIM.. GUY MAYNARD

GUY MAYNARD at 10:37AM on Feb 10th 2007

5. no, comment.

corlette branch at 11:10AM on Feb 10th 2007

6. I applaud Oprah for giving a boost to literary authors. However she has done vitually nothing to promote a music that has been written into the Congressional Record. A music that spawned geniouses like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Billy Strayhorn, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole,Oscar Peterson Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter,Diane Reeves, the list is endless. It is a music known as JAZZ, which up to this very day has been treated like a stepchild. It is a music that is vital, accessible and passionate that can relate to everyone regardless of their tastes in music or life for that matter. She could be an instrument of change in attitudes towards this music as she has undoubtedly been an instrument of change in people's attitude towards reading. We have living legends in our midst, Billy Taylor, Roy Haynes, Nancy Wilson, Gerald Wilson who can give us first hand accounts of the history, past, present and future of this glorious music in addition to her ackowledging the young lions and younger lions who are keeping the torch burning bright. She can not under estimate the impact she can make with this regard.

Onaje Allan Gumbs at 11:20AM on Feb 10th 2007

7. Um question. Did Oprah acknowledge the book " The Covenant In Action", by Tavis Smiley? Surely this would be a book to be recommended right. Today on C-SPAN, Tavis Smiley made a comment, his book made great reviews with out Oprahs book club. Huh... you read between the lines.

Alanthia at 11:44AM on Feb 10th 2007

8. I applaud Mr.Poitier. I have always enjoyed his movies.
I can watch his movies all day and come away with more
self respect each time.
He always projected a man of integrity. His parts in
his movies always made me proud, because he never cease to project pride in who he is and pride for his race.
Thank you Mr. Poitier.

Elaine Bozeman at 11:59AM on Feb 10th 2007

9.



WHAT?

sioux at 12:13PM on Feb 10th 2007

10. Negative comments about each other do nothing but foster the adage "crabs in a barrell." Stop "player hating" and lift up those who are doing something positive with their lives which positively affects the lives of others (even if you don't like it personally). Keep those remarks to yourself and pray that God will remove from you the spirit of negativity.

mizceegee at 1:02PM on Feb 10th 2007

11. Sidney Poitier has always been one of my 10 favorite actors. He has such a style and charm all his own. I will indeed purchase his book "Measures Of A Man". P.S. Oprah I love you and I honor you.

Cassandra at 1:09PM on Feb 10th 2007

12. We all know the early Black Americans struggle to allow the contemporary Black Americans to have what they have now i.e. degrees, entrepreneurship, families, etc. Mr. Poitier couldn't read, he's self taught. I think we should appluad his efforts for not only being able to read, but penn his thoughts on paper, and to speak with grace and poise. God Bless him. He's a true example of what study, perseverance, and continuing to hold onto God's hand will get you...your destiny.

panamadiamondz at 1:23PM on Feb 10th 2007

13. I think Sidney Poitier is a marvelous actor, and I applaud Oprah for picking his book for her book club. I read this book when it first came out and will reread it again. Celebrate "The Measure " of the Man it is truly wonderful. As for the music issue (Jazz), yes it should be recognized but it is not Oprah's responsbility. Did it ever dawn on you that she might not listen to Jazz. I like Jazz and a lot of the artists menitoned, but my first choice is Opera ... to each his own. I also like DooWop. The joy is that we can ejoy it all, and Ken Burns did an excellent documentary on PBS on Jazz,

carol davis at 1:43PM on Feb 10th 2007

14. Well here we go again trying to tell people what to do. cant we just be proud that she supports a black man, we have something to say if she support a white writer and we disagree if she suppotr a black writer, what is this woman suppose to do.people get over it oprah has the power to support what ever and whom ever she please, and if you dont like it dont buy the book. but please stop all of the hatin. i guess you all will have something to say about her support for Barak Obama but please dont go there.keep going oprah you have the power,god bless you.

Joani at 2:03PM on Feb 10th 2007

15. Regardless of what many of you may think and feel, Oprah is just like
the rest of us (HUMAN) her choices are just that (HERS) If she wants
to put someone on her book club list, who she obviously admires ,that
is her choice. No matter how you feel about Mr. Poitier and his
personal life, he is still very important to Black People , one of
the first to be portrayed as a proud black man or black person for
that matter in film, and the first Black man to win an academy award.
My type of thinking is old school, we were pretty busy then trying to
get ahead as a people ...no time really to worry about putting him
down for his romantic choices. I am sure that the women he dealt with
in his younger years have forgotten about it and perhaps we should
too. Most of us black women are strong ....because of our
ancestors...we are pretty much built that way. It is time to move on
as a people and be proud of accomplishments made by our people. Leave
the tabloid crap to others. Okay!

Brenda at 2:52PM on Feb 10th 2007