--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father was a poor man, very poor in a…" description: "\"My father was a poor man, very poor in a British colonial possession where class and race were very important.\" — Sidney Poitier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/sidney-poitier-4270_british_my-father-was-a-poor-man-very-poor-in-a_2401184.jpg" --- # My father was a poor man, very poor in a British colonial… ![“My father was a poor man, very poor in a British colonial possession where class and race were very important.” quote by Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/sidney-poitier-4270_british_my-father-was-a-poor-man-very-poor-in-a_2401184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/sidney-poitier-4270_british_my-father-was-a-poor-man-very-poor-in-a_2401184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/sidney-poitier-4270_british_my-father-was-a-poor-man-very-poor-in-a_2401184.jpg) > “My father was a poor man, very poor in a British colonial possession where class and race were very important.” [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A poor father in a colonial setting faced harsh class and racial hierarchies that limited his opportunities. **In simple terms:** Colonial poverty and discrimination constrained his life. Key Takeaway Recognize systemic barriers and work toward equity. Themes poverty colonialism race class inequality Mood reflective somber Type historical social commentary When to use this quote - historical analysis - policy reform - community advocacy Key Concepts social stratification colonial legacy economic disparity Questions to Reflect On - How do historical power structures affect present opportunities? - What can be done to dismantle lingering colonial inequities? A Different Perspective Limited individual agency within oppressive structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Poor man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-man/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [I'd seen my father. 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In fact, my blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/my-folks-were-english-they-were-too-poor-to-be-british-i-still-have-a/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [I dont want to become a rich man but a poor man with a lot of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-dont-want-to-become-a-rich-man-but-a-poor-man-with-a-lot-of-money/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“I would rather be a poor man in a rich country than a rich man in a poor country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanchain/i-would-rather-be-a-poor-man-in-a-rich-country-than-a-rich-man-in-a/) Wanchain > [Property is not the sacred right. When a rich man becomes poor it is a misfortune, it is not a moral evil. 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I think my work has been representative of me as a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/in-my-case-the-body-of-work-stands-for-itself-i-think-my-work-has/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [You don't have to become something that you aren't to become better than you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/you-don-t-have-to-become-something-that-you-aren-t-to-become-better/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [So it's been kind of a long road, but it was a good journey altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/so-it-s-been-kind-of-a-long-road-but-it-was-a-good-journey-altogether/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I'd seen my father. 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No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. 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