Sidney Poitier Syndrome AKA They call me Mr. Tibbs

Sidney Poitier: A History maker

Oscar-winner Sidney Poitier has passed away at age 94. As of this writing, the date of his death and the cause of his demise have not been revealed. Poitier is known for his long career and being the first African American to win the Academy Award for a leading role in 1963's Lillies of the Field. He has been referred to as America's first black movie star and his every move will now be recalled by the press and examined on the Internet.

There is something else the actor was known for that might make some uncomfortable but it never the less is true. Sidney Poitier Syndrome was very real once upon a time in Hollywood. This is where black characters are they sounding boards for the white male or female lead in a film. They listen to their woes, and offer advice but have no personal life of their own. An archived New York Times article describes it as follows regarding Poitier's performance in the movie In the Heat of The Night.

"Even though the acting, his and Rod Steiger's particularly, is excellent, we have the same old Sidney Poitier syndrome: a good guy in a totally white world, with no wife, no sweetheart, no woman to love or kiss, helping the white man solve the white man's problem."

Sidney Poitier changed Hollywood

In the film, Poitier's character Detective Virgil Tibbs is annoyed when police chief Bill Gillespie (Steiger) continually calls him by his first name. He finally says in a strong tone when asked by Gillespie what they call him in Phillidelphia "They call me Mr. Tibbs". Poitier and other African American actors had to fight against stereotypical roles where they were only the sidekicks to their white counterparts.

Filmmakers in those days did not seem to know what to do with black actors and actresses which is why they did not have homes and families or love scenes. Over time things changed and Poitier went on to become a director and a producer. In 1967 Poitier starred in the film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner where his fiance was white and he had to meet her parents. Even so there were no passionate love scenes because audiences at that time would not have been receptive. Times changed and there is a Pinterest page dedicated to Sidney's many subsequent leading ladies.

Sidney Poitier made the future brighter for actors of color

Now that the actor has passed Sydney Poitier Syndrome is trending as many people desire to know what it means. In a nutshell, it is described as white America falling in love with the Oscar winner because he came across on screen as a "safe" nonthreatening black male due to his subservient roles even when he was the star.

This is simply the way it was but Hollywood has lived and grown and Sydney Poitier Syndrom no longer applies. African Americans now not only have lead roles in films but have families and the plots revolve around them rather than characters of color revolving around the white leads. Black men and women are also producers and directors which was not heard of back in the day.

Poitier like other black actors back in the day accepted the roles he was given in hope of a better day. These were days when African Americans were maids, butlers, or chauffers but they proudly took on those characters because if not they would not get to be in front of the screen. Sidney Poitier Syndrom should be a reminder to us all of the way it used to be and how far we have come.