Octavus Roy Cohen (1891–1959) was an American writer who gained prominence in the early twentieth century. He specialized in ethnic comedies, most notably writing dialect stories that depicted African American life. These comedy pieces achieved significant commercial success and popularity after being published in major national periodicals, including The Saturday Evening Post.
The popularity of Cohen's written work eventually led to adaptations in the film industry. Producer Al Christie adapted Cohen's dialect stories into a series of short films. These cinematic adaptations featured several prominent Black actors of the era, such as Charles Olden, Spencer Williams Jr., Evelyn Preer, and Edward Thompson, bringing his characterizations to the screen.
While Cohen's stories found a large mainstream audience, they also generated significant controversy and backlash. His depictions of African Americans drew sharp criticism from contemporary Black intellectuals and civil rights advocates. Notably, sociologist and activist W. E. B. Du Bois criticized Cohen's portrayals, famously dismissing the characters he created as "monstrosities."
