_I got the motive which is money and the body which is dead._
-Chief Gillespie

I love the way the film isn't just about _Sidney Poitier_ versus the racists, but about a simple murder that would have probably been solved faster not just because of the racists, but because of how it alters _Tibbs_ own behavior.

See you don't just have the hick town not wanting to listen to _Virgil Tibbs_ because he's black, but because _Virgil_ lets it effect his judgment. The best example is that he seems look past the racist remarks of the first suspect, maybe because he recognizes the ignorance in the uneducated man and gives him the benefit of the doubt.. but later on when he's confronted with racism from an educated successful man he wants to accuse him of murder with minimum evidence because you can't excuse his behavior with ignorance. Not only is this second guy a racist asshole, but he's benefited off it.

Of course _Poitier_ is great along with _Rod Steiger_.