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How Sidney Poitier Overcame Racial Dogma

Aired on 04/07/2000 | CC tv-pg
Sidney Poitier broke new ground when he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field, making him the first black person to win such an award. How did the young Bahamian-American actor overcome the low expectations and the prejudices of the era on his path to becoming a movie icon who inspired generations of filmgoers? Watch the video clip above to find out.

Original airdate: April 7, 2000

Watch more historical moments involving race relations and Civil Rights from The Oprah Show's 25-year run.