On This Day in History

On This Day, Legends Were Born: Sidney Poitier and Nancy Wilson

Clay Cane
February 20, 2026

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(AURN News) — On this day, Feb. 20, 1927, trailblazing actor and director Sidney Poitier was born in Miami. He became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for best actor for “Lilies of the Field” and redefined dignity and complexity for Black leading men in Hollywood, later directing films that expanded opportunities behind the camera.

Singer Nancy Wilson, center, signs photographs as she is surrounded by students at the multi-racial Los Angeles High School, Ca., Jan. 1967. Wilson, who has visited other schools in American cities, performed during an assembly and encouraged students to stay in school. (AP Photo)

Nearly a decade later, on this day, Feb. 20, 1936, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. Known for her impeccable phrasing and signature songs like “Guess Who I Saw Today,” she blended jazz, pop and soul with elegance and emotional precision.

Though Poitier died in 2022 and Wilson in 2018, their legacies endure — artists who elevated culture, challenged barriers and left behind work that continues to inspire generations.

Happy heavenly birthday to Sidney Poitier and Nancy Wilson.

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Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane