He was also an advocate for black rights before it was really popular, and actually referred to "my good friend, Sidney Poitier" deliberately when he received the Academy for "The Heat of the Night." He apparently lost no opportunity to put the racial question before the spotlight in an unobtrusive fashion that would never get it cut off the air, but make sure it burrowed its way into the American consciousness. Good for him.
To the Righteous belong the fruits of violent victory. The rest of us will have to settle for warm friends, warm lovers, and a wink from a quietly supportive universe.
