*Includes pictures *Includes Poitier's quotes about his own life and career *Includes a bibliography for further reading “In my case; the body of work stands for itself... I think my work has been representative of me as a man.†– Sidney Poitier “To be compared to Jackie Robinson is an enormous compliment; but I don't think it's necessarily deserved.†– Sidney Poitier A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures; but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series; readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute; while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. Near the end of the 20th century; the American Film Institute ranked the greatest actors and actresses who worked during the Golden Era of Hollywood and the first half of the 1900s; and Sidney Poitier was ranked 22nd among the men. Given the company he was surrounded by; such a distinction could be considered honor enough; but Poitier also happened to be the only minority on the list; an accomplishment made all the more incredible given the systematic discrimination he faced within the industry and the land where he grew up. Though he spent much of his childhood in the Bahamas; Poitier was born in Miami and was exposed to the effects of Jim Crow at a young age; where he came face-to-face with Jim Crow. With no good educational opportunities; Poitier struggled to even learn how to read as a teen; and after a stint in the Army; it’s unclear where his life was headed until he successfully auditioned for a spot in the American Negro Theater; an organization that staged plays during the 1940s and helped groom both Poitier and Harry Belafonte to be actors. Poitier slowly but surely broke into Hollywood during the 1950s; becoming the first black man to be nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Defiant Ones. Naturally; many of Poitier’s films dealt with the tensions of integration in America; and as he once noted; he was often “the only black person on the set. It was unusual for me to be in a circumstance in which every move I made was tantamount to representation of 18 million people.†In 1964; at the height of the Civil Rights Movement; Poitier fittingly became the first black actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor thanks to his role in Lilies of the Field; and his best-known movie might be Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; which dealt with interracial relationships at a time when they were still controversial. Today; Poitier is widely considered an American icon who helped break down barriers for minorities in Hollywood; and as a testament to courage and willpower in the face of discrimination off screen. He has been given too many honorary awards to count; and he recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. American Legends: The Life of Sidney Poitier chronicles the life and roles of the iconic actor. Along with pictures of important people; places; and events; you will learn about Poitier like never before; in no time at all.
#174605 in Books 2017-01-09 2017-01-09Original language:English 9.00 x .37 x 6.00l; #File Name: 1498280943160 pages
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Called to Freedom: A Libertarian Christian PrimerBy Benjamin MillerTL;DR: Called to Freedom: Why You Can Be Christian and Libertarian is a must-have for any politically-inclined Christian. It is especially excellent for conservative Christians who are intrigued by libertarianism but confused as to its relation to their Christians faith.Called to Freedom: Why You Can Be Christian and Libertarian is exactly what it claims to be: an argument in favor of the compatibility of libertarian political philosophy and Christian theology.What to expect: This book is in many ways a "beginner's guide to libertarian thought from a Christian perspective. By no means did I feel as though I was reading a political theory text when reading this book. Rather; this book reads like a Christian book first and foremost and a political book second. The authors have a strong understanding that being Christian precedes being libertarian and have structured the book as such. The book lays out how libertarianism can fit within a Christian worldview rather than Christianity in a libertarian worldview.Pros:As mentioned above; the book puts the focus first and foremost on the understanding of Christian theology within a political environment. The first chapter comes out guns blazing; to an extent unexpectedly; with a theological discussion rather than a political one. It lays the groundwork by understanding what Christianity tells us about human nature before applying that teaching to political theory. The book goes on to discuss what the proper role of government should be given this human nature framework and debunks several myths about Christian libertarianism including the infamous "Romans 13". The last two chapters of the book are a refreshing change of pace that draw a stark contrast between the wonder of human achievement in a free society versus the devastation of authoritarianism. The arguments are easy to understand and sacrifice little in terms of strength to achieve such a feat.Cons:The book is mostly geared towards those who are already interested in libertarianism as a political ideology. Left-leaning Christians may be challenged in their views but are unlikely to find convincing arguments on issues related to economics. One of the pros of the book is that it's written for a general Christian audience regardless of denomination (which I applaud it for). However; denominations with intricate doctrinal teachings (myself being Catholic) may have some cravings left unfilled. (Not a major con; just an expectation to have) Again; the book is meant to be more of a beginner's guide and those look for something deeply technical will be left unsatisfied.Conclusion:This book is a must buy. In fact; it's one of those books that you should buy multiple copies of to give to friends as a proselytizer. From the deeply libertarian; to the newbie; there is much to be gained from the book. It fulfills exactly what it promises to be without losing course one way or another. There is not a better introductory book to Christian libertarianism than this one.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy EllenGreat mix of personal tone and well-educated arguments. Would highly recommend to anyone exploring these topics.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Must read for ALL EvangelicalsBy Eugene RossiI first stumbled across Libertarianism in the confusion following the nomination of Donald Trump last year; specifically when I discovered Austin Petersen; a pro life Libertarian who ran for office as well last year. As expected; there wasn't much material on the subject of how a theologically conservative Christian might argue for Libertarian ideas in government.So over the last year I began following Libertarian Christian Institute; pro life Libertarians and a few other groups on Facebook. Although some people I met seemed to identify as "Libertarian" only as a way to disassociate from Trump and push their own hyper-conservative agendas (Some called for the elimination of public education yet supported the death penalty for blasphemy or homosexuals); but most were very reasonable people who shared many of my Christian beliefs; only that it isn't the government's job to enforce all of those beliefs.After much thought; reading and prayer; I began changing many of my previously held views on what the role of government should be in interfering with various issues; although I still do not consider myself a textbook Libertarian. The few issues I am decidedly Non-Libertarian on are immigration reform; pro-life (most Libertarians are either pro choice or at least do not believe abortion should be outlawed); capital punishment; and social welfare programs (I believe we need to reform the current system but not abolish it until better alternatives become more realistic.Why do I say all this about myself? Because as someone who no longer sees any one brand of political theory as the right way to help our country; this book was very well written in a respectful manner; and it explains the issues in terms the average lay person can easily understand. This book succeeds where other Evangelicals (in my opinion) have failed in properly questioning the establishment; majority views of the "Religious Right." I suggest reading it with an open heart and mind; and if you take nothing else away from it; remember this - The government is by definition Force - when laws are passed; when morality is legislated; it means the government must use the threat of violent force to maintain those laws. That is not to say morality should never be legislated; but it should give us Christian Conservatives pause to consider the logical conclusions of the current popular Evangelical political framework - why should we militantly support the State's role in enforcing a Biblical view of marriage while not doing so in regards to divorce laws; Sabbath keeping; or believing in Christ at all for that matter? The consistent application of those laws leads to Theonomy; a violent and oppressive worldview that is deeply rooted in church history as well as early American history. Is that really what the Church is called to be?This book answers with a resounding "No"; and instead aligns with what I also believe; that the laws of government should be limited primarily to the basics necessary for a free society; the protection of individual rights including the right to life; liberty; and property.
