Black History Month: African American 1sts

Sidney Poitier

First African-American to win Oscar for Best Actor (Lillies of the Field, 1963).

First black nominated for Best Actor Award (The Defiant Ones, 1958).

First black to star as romantic lead (Paris Blues, 1961).

First black to become a No. 1 box-office draw (1968).

First black to insist on a film crew at least 50 percent  African American (The Lost Man, 1969).

First black to kiss a white woman on screen (Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, 1967).