Stepin Fetchit

On KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #186: Halloweenies, Ken and Dana talk about Bojangles Chicken and Biscuits and the conversation included a brief mention of actor Stepin Fetchit.

Stepin Fetchit was the stage name of actor Lincoln Perry. Perry began acting in films in the 1920s and in 1925 received an acting credit for the film The Mysterious Stranger.
This was the first time a black actor had ever received a screen credit.

Fetchit went on to appear in dozens of films in the 1920 to the 1950s. His characters often highlighted negative stereotypes of African-American and can seem shockingly offensive today.

However, it's fair to say that Perry opened the door for future black actors to appear on film in less offensive roles.

In 1976 the Hollywood chapter of the NAACP awarded him a Special NAACP Image Award. In 1978, Perry was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

If you have never seen him perform, do yourself a favor and check out this feature film on YouTube:


It's Judge Priest, a 1934 film starring Will Rogers with a featured supporting role by Stepin Fetchit.