first I can remember seeing Poitier in a movie was Edge of the City from the late 50's maybe.
I saw it on Saturday Night at the Movies on NBC(?) when I was about 10, so around 1963, on a black and white TV.
Pretty sure I was not yet able to grasp all the seriousness of the issues, but I recall being mesmerized by the young actors...
RIP to one of the greats.