Latest news with #SidneyPoitier
The Star
27-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Leaving a legacy
When we think of legacy, we often picture public figures, grand achievements or tangible monuments. Yet few legacies are as far-reaching or powerful as that of a dedicated educator. A single educator can ignite the spark of discovery in hundreds, even thousands, of students over a lifetime. And that spark does not end in the classroom; it creates a ripple effect, influencing careers, perspectives, and the lives of future generations. Those from the older generation will recall the film To Sir, with Love (1967), starring Sidney Poitier, which addressed a number of social, educational and emotional themes that remain relevant today. The teacher is portrayed not just as an instructor, but also as a moral compass, father figure and mentor, guiding students through issues of identity, relationships and future aspirations. As someone who is, first and foremost, a teacher at heart, I have always believed that the heart of education lies not just in knowledge but also in care – not just in expertise, but also in deep humanity. Human touch An educator with a true sense of humanity is one who is not only a scholar, but also a teacher in the truest sense of the word. Passionate, engaged and quietly transformative, they exemplify the kind of educator whose impact defies quantification. These lecturers do not just inform – they inspire. Their office hours are not just slots in a calendar, but spaces of mentorship and encouragement. They understand that students are not just vessels to be filled with information, but individuals to be nurtured, challenged and seen. It is easy to overlook such values in today's university environment. The language of 'outputs', 'deliverables' and 'efficiency' has crept into our discourse, even in places where human connection should matter most. In this context, passionate educators may seem out of step – too generous with their time, too invested in the well-being of students, too unconcerned with the competitive optics of academic life. And yet, to my mind, it is precisely these qualities that make such educators indispensable. Within the short span of a month, we mourn the passing of Dr Sagathevan Kuppusamy and David Chong, two academics at my institution whose absence leaves a deep void, not only in the faculties they served, but also in the lives they touched. Their departure is a solemn reminder of the profound role educators play in our collective story. Leading with heart As Khalil Gibran wrote in The Prophet, 'The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of their wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.' Some teachers embody this spirit. They do not impose their knowledge, but invite students to discover their own. They teach not just facts, but ways of seeing. They do not only answer questions, they help students ask better ones. In an era when education risks becoming depersonalised, I am reminded, through the lives of our late colleagues, that learning is – and always has been – a deeply human exchange. Good teaching, at its core, is relational. It is an act of trust, generosity, and belief in the potential of another. Passionate teachers bring more than knowledge to the classroom; they bring soul. They model curiosity, humility and perseverance. They help students believe in their own potential. They create spaces where learning is not transactional, but transformational. And often, they do all of this quietly, without seeking recognition – driven not by institutional reward, but by a deep-seated belief in the value of education itself. We would do well to remember this, and to reflect on what kind of teachers, colleagues and institutions we want to be. Passion in teaching is not old-fashioned, nor is it a luxury. It is foundational. It is what lingers long after students graduate. It is what shapes lives. Let the examples of our peers who have passed on guide us to be better learners, more compassionate educators and, above all, more thoughtful and caring individuals. Let us honour their legacy and commit ourselves to carrying forward the values they so gracefully lived by. Let us remember that teaching is not just a profession – it is a vocation, a quiet form of leadership that shapes the future, one student at a time. Let us create more inclusive, curious and courageous spaces of learning. Let us honour them by teaching others as they taught us – with patience, passion and, above all, with heart. May their legacy never fade. And may every life they touched continue to shine, carrying their light forward. Prof Datuk Dr Elizabeth Lee is the chief executive officer at Sunway Education Group. A veteran in the field of private higher education, Prof Lee is also an advocate for women in leadership. She has been recognised both locally and internationally for her contributions to the field of education. The views expressed here are the writer's own.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robert De Niro Gave Sheryl Lee Ralph This Unforgettable Advice 33 Years Ago on the Set of 'Mistress' (Exclusive)
Sheryl Lee Ralph shares that she got advice from an unexpected source: Robert De Niro. When filming Mistress, De Niro told the Emmy winner, "You better climb that mountain and wave the red flag, and let them know that you're there" Ralph recounts this moment with PEOPLE at the 2025 Gotham TV Awards, where she was honored with the Sidney Poitier Icon TributeSheryl Lee Ralph got advice from an unexpected source: Robert De Niro. While speaking with PEOPLE at the Gotham TV Awards on Monday, June 2, the Abbott Elementary actress and Emmy winner, 68, shares the career-guiding advice that she's never forgotten. 'About 33 years ago, I was doing a movie with Robert De Niro, and in between scenes, Robert De Niro looked at me and said, 'Hollywood's not looking for the Black girl. So, you better climb that mountain and wave the red flag, and let them know that you're there,' " she says. Ralph was filming Mistress, a 1992 comedy that starred De Niro, Danny Aiello, Eli Wallach and Jean Smart. The longtime actress, who also starred in Broadway's Dreamgirls and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, was honored with the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute at the second annual awards ceremony, which she called a 'full-circle moment' because of Poitier's early involvement in her career. 'Mr. Sidney Poitier quite literally opened the door to Hollywood for me by casting me in my first movie, A Piece of the Action,' the star tells PEOPLE. 'And he cast me over his own daughter, Pamela. Pamela always says to me, 'Sheryl Lee Ralph, you stole my career.' And he looked at me and he said, 'Sheryl Lee Ralph, I expect great things from you.' And I learned so much in that time with him.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The actress has had a storied career and most recently won an Emmy for her performance in Abbott Elementary. She shares that she's not slowing down anytime soon and says, 'It's not over until you say it's over.' 'If you know it's for you, then you keep right on going,' she shares with PEOPLE. 'I kept chipping away at those glass ceilings. I kept trying to recreate myself to stay relevant, to open doors that were very tightly shut, and at times, build my own table. I look back now and I say, 'Thank you, Mr. Poitier. Thank you very much because I'm still here.' " Read the original article on People
Boston Globe
13-04-2025
- Boston Globe
Today in History: April 13, Tiger Woods wins first Masters by record margin
In 1861, Fort Sumter in South Carolina fell to Confederate forces in the first battle of the Civil War. In 1873, members of the pro-white, paramilitary White League attacked Black state militia members defending a courthouse in Colfax, La. Three white men and as many as 150 Black men were killed in what is known as the Colfax Massacre, one of the worst acts of Reconstruction-era violence. In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Jefferson Memorial in Washington on the 200th anniversary of his birth. Advertisement In 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first Black performer to win an Academy Award for acting in a leading role for his performance in 'Lilies of the Field.' In 1997, 21-year-old Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga., finishing a record 12 strokes ahead of Tom Kite in second place. In 1999, right-to-die advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian was sentenced in Pontiac, Mich., to 10 to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder for administering a lethal injection to a patient with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. (Kevorkian ultimately served eight years before being paroled.) Advertisement In 2005, a defiant Eric Rudolph pleaded guilty to carrying out the deadly bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and three other attacks in back-to-back court appearances in Birmingham, Ala., and Atlanta. In 2009, at his second trial, music producer Phil Spector was found guilty by a Los Angeles jury of second-degree murder in the shooting of actor Lana Clarkson. (Later sentenced to 19 years to life, Spector died in prison in January 2021.) In 2011, a federal jury in San Francisco convicted baseball slugger Barry Bonds of a single charge of obstruction of justice, but failed to reach a verdict on the three counts at the heart of allegations that he knowingly used steroids and human growth hormone and lied to a grand jury about it. (Bonds' conviction for obstruction was overturned in 2015.) In 2016, the Golden State Warriors became the NBA's first 73-win team, by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, breaking the 72-win record set by the Chicago Bulls in 1996. In 2017, Pentagon officials said US forces struck a tunnel complex of the Islamic State group in eastern Afghanistan with the GBU-43/B MOAB 'mother of all bombs,' the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the military.
Khaleej Times
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Eddie Murphy recalls how Sidney Poitier advised him not to star in 'Malcolm X'
"Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy opened up about some advice Sidney Poitier once gave him that left him surprised. In Apple TV+'s new documentary, Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood, he said the Oscar winner advised him not to join the cast of 1992's Malcom X. The film was first directed by Norman Jewison, the director of Poitier's In the Heat of the Night, who cast Denzel Washington in the starring role before Spike Lee took over as director. "They were talking about doing Malcolm X," Murphy recalled. "Norman Jewison was putting it together. They were gonna use Th e Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. And they approached me about playing Alex Haley. Around that same time, I bumped into Sidney Poitier at something, and I asked him, 'Yeah, I'm thinking about playing Alex Haley!' And Sidney Poitier said, 'You are not Denzel [Washington], and you are not Morgan [Freeman]. You are a breath of fresh air, and don't [mess] with that!'." Murphy admitted he "didn't know" if Poitier's advice "was an insult or a compliment", but was just shocked to be compared to Washington and Freeman. "I was like, 'What?'" he added. In the documentary, Murphy also spoke about being different from the leading black men on the big screen. "I was in uncharted waters. For Sidney and all those guys, when I showed up, it was something kinda new," Murphy said, adding, "They didn't have a reference for me, they couldn't give me advice, 'cause I was 20, 21 years old, and my audience was the mainstream, all of everywhere. My movies [were] all around the world, and they had never had that with a young Black person. So nobody could give me advice, really. Everything broke really big and really fast." While Lee's Malcom X didn't include Haley as a character, the film ended up being a huge critical success, earning two Oscar nominations: best actor for Washington and best costume design for Ruth E. Carter, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Eddie Murphy Says Sidney Poitier Advised Him Not to Star in ‘Malcolm X'
Eddie Murphy is opening up about some advice Sidney Poitier once gave him that left him surprised. In Apple TV+'s new documentary, Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood, the Beverly Hills Cop actor shared that the Oscar winner told him not to star in 1992's Malcom X. At the time, the film was initially being helmed by Norman Jewison, Poitier's In the Heat of the Night director, who cast Denzel Washington in the lead role before Spike Lee took over as director. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'American Gangster' Drug Kingpin Frank Lucas to Be Focus of Documentary (Exclusive) George Clooney's 'Good Night and Good Luck' Sets New Record Weekly Gross for a Broadway Play 'Othello' Director Kenny Leon and Denzel Washington Are "Absolutely" Discussing a Potential Film Adaptation 'They were talking about doing Malcolm X,' Murphy recalled. 'Norman Jewison was putting it together. They were gonna use The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. And they approached me about playing Alex Haley. Around that same time, I bumped into Sidney Poitier at something, and I asked him, 'Yeah, I'm thinking about playing Alex Haley!' And Sidney Poitier said, 'You are not Denzel [Washington], and you are not Morgan [Freeman]. You are a breath of fresh air, and don't fuck with that!'' Murphy admitted he 'didn't know' if Poitier's advice 'was an insult or a compliment,' but was just shocked to be compared to Washington and Freeman. 'I was like, 'What?'' he added. Elsewhere in Black Leading Men in Hollywood, Murphy speculated as to why Poitier didn't put him in the same group as Washington and Freeman. 'I was in uncharted waters. For Sidney and all those guys, when I showed up, it was something kinda new,' the Dreamgirls actor said. 'They didn't have a reference for me, they couldn't give me advice, 'cause I was 20, 21 years old, and my audience was the mainstream — all of everywhere. My movies [were] all around the world, and they had never had that with a young Black person. So nobody could give me advice, really. Everything broke really big and really fast.' While Lee's Malcom X didn't include Haley as a character, the film ended up being a huge critical success, earning two Oscar nominations: best actor for Washington and best costume design for Ruth E. Carter. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked 20 Times the Oscars Got It Wrong The Best Anti-Fascist Films of All Time
