Despite Thomas being a male, the Buckwheat character remained a female-dressed as a Topsy-esque image of the African-American " pickaninny" stereotype with bowed pigtails, a large hand-me-down sweater and oversized boots. Thomas began appearing as "Buckwheat" with 1935's Mama's Little Pirate. The "Buckwheat" character was a female at this time, portrayed by Our Gang kid Matthew "Stymie" Beard's younger sister Carlena in For Pete's Sake!, and by Willie Mae Walton in three other shorts. ![]() Billie Thomas first appeared in the 1934 Our Gang shorts For Pete's Sake!, The First Round-Up, and Washee Ironee as a background player.
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