As the first Black actor to win a Best Actor Oscar, Sidney Poitier was a pioneer of diversity and inclusion in cinema, and a charismatic, unforgettable presence whose innate dignity elevated every film in which he appeared. During this course, we will look at Poitier’s impressive career, from his early appearances in Blackboard Jungle (1955) and The Defiant Ones (1958), to his award-winning turn in Lilies of the Field (1963), to his historic roles in movies like Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) and In the Heat of the Night (also 1967). Actor, director, ambassador – this course is a tribute to an iconic individual whose life and work enriched our culture in countless ways.

Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg is an author and pop culture historian. He has taught courses in media literacy and other cultural topics at SPICE, UMBC, the University of Baltimore, CCBC, and the Osher Institute at Towson University. He spent fifteen years in the comic book industry, curated a pop culture museum for five years, and currently runs his own publishing company, ATB Publishing.

Policies and Registration:
All SPICE courses must be registered for and paid for in their entirety. SPICE fees are per head, not per household, with a 50% off fee for second registrants within the same household.

A minimum of 15 enrollees per course are required in order to hold the course. If a course must be canceled, those registered will be notified and a SPICE credit will be issued.

Reservations are to be made online (below)

Payment may be made in one of three ways:
1. Credit/Debit Card
2. Bill your synagogue account HSOSC Members only.
3. Check Make the check out to “SPICE at HSOSC” and drop off at our office, or mail it to us (7310 Park Heights Ave. 21208)
Regardless of how you pay, you must register online!