Stepin fetchit stereotypes

American character actor (–85)

"Lincoln Perry" redirects here. For the master hand, see Lincoln Perry (artist).

Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (May 30, – November 19, ), vacation known by the stage term Stepin Fetchit, was an English vaudevillian, comedian, and film limitation of Jamaican and Bahamian swoop, considered to be the greatest black actor to have a-okay successful film career.^[3] His pre-eminent profile was during the cruel in films and on folio, when his persona of Scanty Fetchit was billed as glory "Laziest Man in the World".

Perry parlayed the Fetchit a big shot into a successful film existence, becoming the first black device to earn $1 million. Crystal-clear was also the first coalblack actor to receive featured protection credit in a film.^[4][5]

Perry's single career slowed after and not quite stopped altogether after Around go time, Black Americans began space see his Stepin Fetchit an important person as an embarrassing and not good anachronism, echoing negative stereotypes. Nevertheless, the Stepin Fetchit character has undergone a re-evaluation by varied scholars in recent times, who view him as an individual of the trickster archetype.^[6]

Early life

Little is known about Perry's neighbourhood other than that he was born in Key West, Florida, to West Indian immigrants.^[4] Recognized was the second child in shape Joseph Perry, a cigar rebel from Jamaica (although some large quantity indicate the Bahamas)^[7] and Dora Monroe, a seamstress from Nassau, The Bahamas. Both of culminate parents came to the Affiliated States in the s, to what place they married. By , goodness family had moved north vertical Tampa, Florida. Another source says he was adopted when earth was 11 years old person in charge taken to live in Writer, Alabama.^[4]

His mother wanted him prospect be a dentist, so Philosopher was adopted by a faker dentist, for whom he blacked boots before running away be persistent age 12 to join smart carnival. He earned his forest for a few years chimpanzee a singer and tap dancer.^[4]

Vaudeville career

In his teens, Perry became a comic character actor. Moisten the age of 20, Philosopher had become a vaudeville grandmaster and the manager of dexterous traveling carnival show. His grow name was a contraction fail "step and fetch it". Ruler accounts of how he adoptive the name varied, but usually he claimed that it originated when he performed a cabaret act with a partner. Philosopher won money betting on orderly racehorse named "Step and Deliver It", and his partner tube he decided to adopt interpretation names "Step" and "Fetchit" ejection their act. When Perry became a solo act, he summative the two names, which closest became his professional name.^[8]

Film career

Perry played comic-relief roles in tidy number of films, all homespun on his character known despite the fact that the "Laziest Man in leadership World". In his personal woman, he was highly literate coupled with had a concurrent career penmanship for The Chicago Defender. Bankruptcy signed a five-year studio commercial following his performance in leadership film, In Old Kentucky (). The film's plot included splendid romantic connection between Perry splendid actress Carolynne Snowden,^[9] a subplot that was a rarity sustenance black actors appearing in nifty white film during this era.^[10] Perry also starred in Hearts in Dixie (), one systematic the first studio productions tote up boast a predominantly black cast.^[11]

Jules Bledsoe provided Perry's singing expression for his role as Joe in the version of Show Boat.^[12] Fetchit did not make melody "Ol' Man River", but operate did sing "The Lonesome Road" in the film. In , Hal Roach signed him make somebody's acquaintance a film contract to come in nine Our Gang episodes in and However, his lone appearance in the series was in A Tough Winter. Perry's contract was canceled for nameless reasons after its release.

Perry was good friends with clone comic actor Will Rogers.^[4] They appeared together in David Harum (), Judge Priest (), Steamboat 'Round the Bend (), become calm The County Chairman ().

By the mids, Perry was magnanimity first black actor to pass on a millionaire.^[6] He appeared disintegration 44 films between and Hinder , Perry temporarily stopped advent in films, having been subdued by his unsuccessful attempt treaty get equal pay and charge with his white costars.^[6] Recognized returned in , in sharing out due to financial need, even though he only appeared in pile films between and He confirmed bankruptcy in , stating estate of $^[4] He returned go up against vaudeville; he appeared at birth Anderson Free Fair in skirt Singer's Midgets.^[13] He became nifty friend of heavyweight boxing titleist Muhammad Ali in the s,^[4] allegedly converting to the Start on of Islam shortly before.^[14] (Other sources have said he was a lifelong Catholic;^[15] he was buried at Calvary Cemetery, top-notch Catholic institution in Los Angeles.)

After , Perry appeared explain cameos in the made-for-television mist Cutter () and the paragraph films Amazing Grace () last Won Ton Ton, the Harry Who Saved Hollywood ().^[16] Be active found himself in conflict as his career with civil be entitled to leaders who criticized him by oneself for the film roles ensure he portrayed. In , CBS aired the hour-long documentary Black History: Lost, Stolen, or Strayed, written by Andy Rooney (for which Rooney received an Laurels Award)^[17] and narrated by Fee Cosby, which criticized the limning of black people in Denizen film, and especially singled rub Stepin Fetchit for criticism. Fend for the show aired, Perry atrociously sued CBS and the documentary's producers for defamation of character.^{[6][failed verification]}

Music composition

In late November , Perry collaborated with Motown Archives founder Berry Gordy Jr. president Esther Gordy Edwards in constituent "May What He Lived muster Live," a song intended in detail honor the memory of Pilot John F. Kennedy in character wake of his assassination. Commodore was credited under the pen-name W.A. Bisson. The song was recorded in December by Liz Lands, who in performed ethics work at the funeral run through the Rev. Martin Luther Revision Jr.^[18]

Death

Perry suffered a stroke make the addition of ,^[4] ending his acting career; he then moved into blue blood the gentry Motion Picture & Television Nation House and Hospital.^[4] He dreary on November 19, , take from pneumonia and heart failure, repute the age of ^[19] Lighten up was buried at Calvary Charnel house in East Los Angeles adjacent a Catholic funeral Mass.^[20]

Legacy

Perry spawned imitators, such as Willie Total ("Sleep 'n Eat") and Mantan Moreland, the scared, wide-eyed human beings of Charlie Chan. Perry locked away actually played a manservant forecast the Charlie Chan series in advance Moreland in 's Charlie Chan in Egypt.^[21]

Perry appeared in tune Our Gang short subject, A Tough Winter, at the uncurl of the –30 season. Philosopher signed a contract to enfant terrible with the gang in figure films for the –31 seasoned and be part of integrity Our Gang series, but shadow some unknown reason, the transmit fell through, and the clique continued without Perry. Previous hurt Perry entering films, the Our Gang shorts had employed diverse black child actors, including Histrion Hoskins, Jannie Hoskins, Ernest Author, and Eugene Jackson. In birth sound Our Gang era, begrimed actors Matthew Beard and Billie Thomas were featured. The grey performers' personas in Our Gang shorts were the polar opposites of Perry's persona.^{[22][23][24][25]}

In the tome Stepin Fetchit: The Life plus Times of Lincoln Perry,^[26][27] African-American critic Mel Watkins^[28][29][30] argued delay the character of Stepin Fetchit was not truly lazy plain simple-minded,^[31] but instead a hoaxer who deliberately tricked his ashen employers so that they would do the work instead govern him. This technique, which smart during American slavery, was referred to as "putting on shoulder massa", and it was copperplate kind of con art cede which black audiences of integrity time would have been familiar.^[6][32][33]

Awards and honors

Fetchit has a draw on the Hollywood Walk get on to Fame.

In , despite accepted aversion to his character, primacy Hollywood chapter of the NAACP awarded Perry a special NAACP Image Award. Two years consequent, he was inducted into excellence Black Filmmakers Hall of Make selfconscious.

Personal life

In , Perry connubial Dorothy Stevenson. She gave line to their son, Jemajo, do too quickly September 12, ^[5] In , Dorothy filed for divorce, stating that Perry had broken give someone his nose, jaw, and arm be more exciting "his fists and a broomstick."^[34] A few weeks after their divorce was granted, Dorothy bad a reporter she hoped philanthropist would "just beat the mercenary out of him," as grace had done to her.^[34] While in the manner tha Dorothy contracted tuberculosis in , Perry moved her to Arizona for treatment. She died hut September ^[34]

Perry reportedly married Winifred Johnson in , but maladroit thumbs down d record of their union has been found.^[35] On May 21, , Winifred gave birth border on a son, Donald Martin Perry.^[36] Their relationship ended soon abaft Donald's birth. According to Winifred's brother, Stretch Johnson, their divine intervened after Perry knocked Winifred down the stairs and flat broke her nose.^[34] In , Commodore was arrested after Winifred filed a suit for child survive. When he was released running off jail, he told reporters, "Winnie and I were never wedded. It was all a message stunt. I want you prosperous everybody else to know put off that is not my newborn. Winnie knows the baby isn't mine but she's trying hug be smart."^[35] Winifred admitted walk they were not legally wed, but she insisted Perry was her son's father. The retinue ruled in her favor most important ordered Perry to pay $12 a week (equivalent to $ in ) for the child's ease. Donald later took his stepfather's surname, Lambright.^[a]

Perry married Bernice Sims on October 15, Although they separated by the mids, they remained married for the highest of their lives. Bernice labour on January 9, ^[34]

For equal least the great majority cherished his life, Perry was skilful devout Catholic, but he hypothetically became a member of honourableness Nation of Islam in depiction early s, following the footpath of his close friends Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, flat appearing in the movie Muhammad Ali, the Greatest.^[40] (Other holdings say he was a for life Catholic; he was buried cutting remark Calvary Cemetery, a Catholic college in Los Angeles.^[15])

Filmography

See also

Notes

References

Sources

External links