Trailblazers in Black History: Dewey 'Pigmeat' Markham

 

Though best known as a comedian, Markham was also a singer, dancer, and actor. His nickname came from a stage routine, in which he declared himself to be "Sweet Poppa Pigmeat."
 
Dewey Pigmeat Markham was born in Durham, North Carolina. His family was the most prominent on their street, which was later officially renamed Markham Street. Running away from home in 1918, Markham began his career in traveling music and burlesque shows. He took up with a white showman he ambiguously referred to over the years as "Mr. Booker" owner of a "gilly carnival." Soon, Markham found himself in blackface. "Mr. Booker came over to us before the show with a can of Stein's burnt-cork and showed us how to put it on in front of the mirror. He also had some pink and white lip make-up." 

"You may wonder why a Negro had to do that, and all I can tell you is that's the way it was. Just about every Negro entertainer in those days worked in burnt-cork and lip make-up - even Bert Williams who was the greatest of them all. Matter of fact, I never went before an audience without my burnt-cork until 1943 - more than twenty years later."

For a time he was a member of Bessie Smith's Traveling Revue in the 1920s and later appeared on burlesque bills with such comedy legends as Milton Berle, Red Buttons, and Eddie Cantor. He claimed he originated the Truckin' dance which became nationally popular at the start of the 1930s. 
 
Markham performed regularly at New York's famed Apollo Theater where he wore blackface makeup and huge painted white lips, ignoring complaints from Black leaders that it was insulting and degrading. During his long career he appeared at the Apollo more frequently then any other performer. Starting in the 1950s, Pigmeat Markham began working on television, making multiple appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. 

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Source: Blackface! Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham