Poitier: the Master

Many thanks to Greg Braxton for his article on Sidney Poitier and the illustrious documentary that Lee Grant crafted in his honor (‘Getting to the Heart of Poitier,” Feb. 2). Poitier is one of our greatest living treasures, and it is always a delight to revisit the master and his career.

Braxton mentions that Poitier was the first and, so far, only African American to win an Academy Award for best actor. What I’d like to shine light on is the fact that Grant not only won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in “Shampoo” (1975) but also won best documentary for “Down and Out in America” (1986). Grant’s own major career achievements in film make her tribute to Poitier all the more magnificent. My hat is off to both of them.

BRIAN FOYSTER

Los Angeles

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I enjoyed Braxton’s article, but did want to mention one inaccuracy that is of some significance. He writes: “The walls that Poitier broke down for black actors are evident, particularly in one scene in ‘In the Heat of the Night’ in which he is slapped without provocation by a white greenhouse manager, and he slaps back.”

As I remember it, the character was a wealthy and aging Southern aristocrat (found working, patrician-style, in the vast greenhouse on his large plantation-estate) whose power and way of life are waning. Clearly the station of the person Poitier slapped was emblematic and an important element of this well-crafted film.

MARC STEIN

Los Angeles