Sidney Poitier, the groundbreaking actor who dramatically transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen, died on Friday. He was 94.
Poitier, a fierce advocate for education, became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance in “Lillies of the Field” and the first to be a top box-office draw.
The son of tomato Bahamian farmers on Cat Island, Poitier was the youngest of nine children. He moved to Miami to live with a brother when he was 14, then a year later to New York City, where he started his acting career. 
Former President Barack Obama presents Sidney Poitier with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together," former President Barack Obama tweeted. "He also opened doors for a generation of actors."
Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton said that Poitier used his fame to make America better for all Americans.
