COMM 203 Study Guide - Final Guide: Uncle Remus, Stepin Fetchit, Tragic Mulatto
Document Summary
First black character to appear on screen was tom from uncle tom"s cabin but it was played by a white painted in blackface. First of a long line of socially acceptable good negro characters. Toms appear as selfless characters- dies for sake of another and sells himself into slavery. Remakes of uncle tom"s cabin showed the good christian slave. 1914 distinguished itself by casting sam lucas who becomes first negro man in leading role. 1927- universal pictures casts james b. lowe to fit in with the realistic" demands of the times. Although lowe is praised for his work, tom still remained the same. 2 variations- pickaninny and the uncle remus. Topsy in uncle toms cabin- comic relief. Pure coon- most degrading, no account niggers (unreliable and lazy) Rastus paved way for greatest coon of all time, stepin fetchit. Only hinted at during silent era, did not bloom until 1930s-40s.
