Stepin Fetchit was the screen persona of Lincoln Perry, a groundbreaking Black actor who rose to fame in an era when Hollywood reflected America’s most overtly racist attitudes. While the character made Perry a household name, it also drew sharp criticism from contemporaries who saw Fetchit as a damaging stereotype.
Offscreen, Perry was far removed from the persona he portrayed: sharp, ambitious, and determined to carve out a place in film history. He became Hollywood’s first Black superstar and the first to earn US$1 million from his roles, yet the shadow of Stepin Fetchit followed him throughout his life.
Click through the gallery to uncover the complex legacy behind Hollywood’s first Black superstar.