Sidney called Mom in 1958 to say that he was coming to town to film some scenes from the movie version of “A Raisin in the Sun”. The play/movie was set in Chicago and the Director needed some exterior shots.
New York, New York,” If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.” So said my mother as she arrived at Grand Central Station on 42nd Street. Newly divorced, the young Frances Wallace Borges viewed the skyline as she sought a new life and a new home for herself and her son, Ernesto Borges, Jr.
New York was a tough town but luckily, she had two older brothers living there, John Wallace, a singer-songwriter (“Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean”) and Coley Wallace, a heavyweight boxer. Coley was the only man to ever defeat Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano, which he had done in the Golden Gloves Championship prior to them turning professional. Coley would later portray Joe Louis in the movie, “The Joe Louis Story” released in 1953. In 1956 Coley starred with the legendary Ethel Waters in “Caribe Gold” wherein the young ingenue, Cecily Tyson, was introduced to the Silver Screen. Geoffrey Holder, the “Uncola man” of 7-Up commercials was also featured.
Mom had a head start with brothers who had already entered the celebrity crowd. With their help, her brains, beauty and charming personality, the sky was the limit. She became amongst other things, an international runway model, and later cover girl for Jet Magazine and Our World Magazine, the predecessor of Ebony Magazine. Her modeling and fashion group consisted of tightly knit friends, including, Sara Lou Carter (later to become Lady Sara Lou after marrying Ambassador Sir John Carter), Delores Parker (long time singer with Duke Ellington), Marguerite Belafonte (wife of Harry), Joan Hardy (later married Archie Moore, Light Heavyweight Champion) and Joan’s sister, Juanita Hardy, the future wife of Sidney Poitier.
In 1950, the biggest Beauty Pageant of Harlem was being held at the Savoy Ballroom, the hippest spot in Harlem, if not the world. Among the contestants was Juanita Hardy, who was drop-dead gorgeous from head to toe. Mom and Joan were there supporting Juanita when in walks Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier. Harry, who knew Mom and Joan, introduced Sidney to them as Sidney’s eyes gazed at Juanita on stage. Once Juanita joined them, Sidney said to Juanita, “I’m going to marry you”. Within a few months, Mom and many others attended their wedding.
While still modeling, Frances was offered the position of national sales manager for “The House of Winslow”, a newly established cosmetics company which was appealing to the need for cosmetics for Black women. While traveling the country, she visited the Chicago market and met Dr. Clinton L. Lindo. After a short courtship, they married, and Chicago became their home in 1957.
Mom, Juanita and Sidney stayed in touch throughout
the years. Sidney had great successes with movies such as, “The Blackboard Jungle” with Glen Ford, “Edge of the City” with Richard Widmark and “The Defiant Ones” with Tony Curtis. He also starred on Broadway in “A Raisin in the Sun” and made the character, Walter Lee Younger, his forever.
Sidney called Mom in 1958 to say that he was coming to town to film some scenes from the movie version of “A Raisin in the Sun”. The play/movie was set in Chicago and the Director needed some exterior shots. Sidney asked if he and a friend could come to dinner at our home. Of course, we were delighted to entertain him. He brought Ivan Dixon (Mr. Assagai in the film) as his guest. Ivan would later portray one of the POW’s in “Hogan’s Heroes”, a TV show. While at our home he held my seven-month-old sister, Lolita, and asked if he could be her godfather, my parents graciously acquiesced. The next day I visited “Uncle Sidney” on the movie set which was shot on 35th Street and Giles, which was only a few blocks from our home in Lake Meadows. I have a photo with him on location on that day when I was 11 years old. In later years, he allowed me to join him on the sets of “Uptown Saturday Night” and “Let’s Do It Again”.
Mom, her brothers and I visited Uncle Sidney, Aunt Juanita and their four daughters at their home in Pleasantville, New York before their divorce. While there, he let me hold his Oscar for Best Actor for “Lillies of the Field” — a moment I will never forget.
The last time I saw Sidney was when he visited Reverend Johnnie Coleman’s church when an old and dear friend, Hermene Hartman, allowed my mother, sister, nephew and I to have a backstage visit with him during his book tour. He was delighted to see us and told everyone that he had “raised” mom, although they are only a little more than a year apart in age.
While listening to the Perri Small Show on Friday morning, January 7, 2022, I heard her mentioned that Sidney Poitier had passed. I immediately called Mom who immediately called Aunt Juanita. Although she has three surviving daughters (Gina preceded Sidney), Mom was the bearer of the news of his passing (Beverly, Pam and Sherri, unbeknownst to Mom, had wanted to inform her later in the day). Mom and Aunt Juanita continue to talk at least once a month after seventy years of friendship.
Although unknown to many, Sidney had been suffering from dementia for some years. He fought his ailment the same way he fought for dignity and respect for the Black race. He portrayed men of honor and principle. He was the on-screen standard bearer for our people by creating a Black man who even dared to slam (back) a white man in the deep south (“In the Heat of the Night”) – a first in the annals of movie history. He was a very special person who was the vanguard in helping to change the perception and image of Black people throughout the world.
We should all thank God that there was a Sidney Poitier. You made the world a better place.
— Ernesto D. Borges, Jr.
