Poitier: Oscar speech easy

York, Pa. Â Sidney Poitier says he didn’t have to spend much time writing his speech accepting a lifetime achievement Oscar and thanking all the black actors and actresses who helped pave the way.

“It didn’t take that long, because I was speaking what I believed to be the truth, every moment of which was lived,” said Poitier, who spoke Friday at the Junior League of York. “So it wasn’t hard to find the words.”

In addition to his special Oscar, Poitier also won the 1963 best-actor award for “Lilies of the Field.”

He said he’s been re-examining who he is  and who Americans are  in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

He urged people to look “past the veneer of surface appearances,” adding, “When surface appearances become all we see, surface appearances become all we know.”

NAACP honors Belafonte

Detroit  Actor Harry Belafonte will receive a lifetime achievement award later this month from the NAACP Detroit branch.

“Mr. Belafonte has been a great role model, possessing not only professional gifts and talents, but he also reflects the gift of social sacrifice and political consciousness that has helped African-Americans in their struggle,” said the Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter.

The April 28 Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, where the award will be given out, is part of the Detroit NAACP’s Freedom Weekend celebration.

Graham undergoes surgery

Jacksonville, Fla. Â Evangelist Billy Graham underwent surgery Friday at the Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville to relieve symptoms of a sinus infection and bronchitis.

In a procedure that took just under two hours, Dr. David Pearson, a facial surgeon, removed the bony portions that make up the openings of the affected sinuses. The surgery was performed under general anesthesia.

In a statement, Pearson said he expects Graham, 83, to feel immediate relief from his sinus symptoms and experience fewer cases of sinusitis and bronchitis in the future.

Ashcroft to appear on Letterman

New York  Singer, songwriter and Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft plans to spend some time with David Letterman.

Ashcroft is scheduled to tape an appearance on the CBS “Late Show” on Tuesday, CBS said.

Letterman has been poking fun at the attorney general by repeatedly showing a clip of Ashcroft singing the self-penned song, “Let the Eagles Soar,” at a visit to a North Carolina theological seminary.

When he was in the Senate, Ashcroft joined colleagues Trent Lott, Jim Jeffords and Larry Craig in an informal music group, the Singing Senators.