african American characters that pushed back

A key moment in the history of African Americans in cinema was in IN THE HEAT IF THE NUGHT, when Larry Gates slaps Sidney Poitier and Poitier slaps him back.  

i am watching ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY a 1949 Clark Gable film with Caleb Peterson as a houseman in a gambling palace. His jobs are serving and cleaning, but he seems to be on equal terms with the other employees, the dealers, put bosses and accountants. They all have a fierce loyalty to Gable. Peterson speaks in a natural Black accented voice rather than a step n fetch it comic dialect. The most  impressive moment of push back comes when two villains insist on calling him George, a leftover from the days when White men called all train porters George, as though they did not have personal names . Peterson protests, at first calmly, then more firmly. When the two villains are overcome and thrown out of the club, Peterson yells “ Good Night , GEORGE “ after them.  It’s a surprisingly natural performance , with the Black character, despite his subservient position, refusing to accept humiliating insults. 

i am wondering about other Pre 1967 moments when Black characters are shown pushing back at ill treatment, speaking in natural voices, having a life of their own away from the white characters.