A New Steve Perry Image
While looking for something else this evening, I happened on this recent addition to the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs at the Library of Congress of an image of Steve Perry of Rome, Georgia. Perry, who spent the last couple of decades of his life using the persona of “Uncle Steve Eberhart,” was a regular fixture at Confederate Veteran reunions, playing to crowd by carrying around live chickens and expressing his appreciation to “the southern white man” for having been a slave. The photo also shows one of the military-style coats he routinely wore, both at home and at reunions.
My friend and colleague Kevin Levin discusses Steve Perry in his new book, Searching for Black Confederates. Have you got your copy yet?
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Dead Confederates, A Civil War Era Blog 
I’ve seen photos of Stepin’ Fetchit that were less embarrassing than that image. Good God.