Lincoln Perry was known to have been the first black movie star. With his stage name Stepin Fetchit, he was also known to have been the first black millionaire of his time
He was born in Key West, Florida, his father being Joseph Perry a Jamaican man, and his mother (name unknown). Growing up Perry did different forms of performance, including song, tap dancing, and a tent show performer. In his twenties, Perry performed in Black vaudeville shows as one-half of a duo called the “Step and Fetch It”, where he later came up with his stage name Stepin Fetchit. After he moved to Los Angeles in 1920, a Fox Studio scout offered him a screen test, which turned out to be successful. During his career he was a part of more than 40 movies, including 1929 Heart in Dixie, 1930 A Tough Winter, and the 1934 Judge Priest. His earlier role was the 1927 silent film In Old Kentucky. Now although being a part of many films during a still segregated and racist time, he very quickly became the peak of fame by the 1930s and became a millionaire. Many articles featured him writing about his extravagant life, including how he had more than a dozen cars, 16 or more servants and chauffeurs, and expensive cashmere suits. He himself was respected for how well he was doing as a Black man, but many black people weren’t happy with his work due to the fact that most of the characters he played were black people portrayed as stereotypes. Being lazy, dumb, and unsophisticated. During his time working with Fox Studios, he tried to get equal pay for both black and white actors but was unsuccessful. By the 1940s, he quit Hollywood, and became bankrupt. He later died in 1985, at a hospital in Los Angeles. Many African American critics went on to say that although his movie and the roles he played were stereotypical, that people would still be able to find the humor in his work and that he worked hard and did well for being who he was.
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