Black History Month Sidney Poitier was born on February 20, 1927
in Miami, Florida. After a delinquincy-filled youth and a short
stint in the U.S. Army, Poitier moved to New York to pursue an
acting career. He joined the American Negro Theater and later
began finding roles in Hollywood. In 1963, he because the first
black actor to win an Academy Award for his performance in
Lilies of the Field. He also directed several films, including
Stir Crazy and Ghost Dad.