Posted on 02/04/2019 12:01:02 PM PST by SeekAndFind
It's been nearly 200 years since white performers first started painting their faces black to mock enslaved Africans in minstrel shows across the United States. It was racist and offensive then, and still is today.
The latest controversy to erupt over blackface is a photo in Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's medical school yearbook. It depicts one person in blackface and another dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan. After initially apologizing for appearing in the photo, the Democratic governor now says he is neither the person in blackface nor the person dressed as a Klansman.
However Northam's case plays out, it's important for every American to understand what blackface is and why it's so offensive.
Blackface isn't just about painting one's skin darker or putting on a costume. It invokes a racist and painful history.
The origins of blackface date back to the minstrel shows of mid-19th century. White performers darkened their skin with polish and cork, put on tattered clothing and exaggerated their features to look stereotypically "black." The first minstrel shows mimicked enslaved Africans on Southern plantations, depicting black people as lazy, ignorant, cowardly or hypersexual, according to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).
The performances were intended to be funny to white audiences. But to the black community, they were demeaning and hurtful.
One of the most popular blackface characters was "Jim Crow," developed by performer and playwright Thomas Dartmouth Rice. As part of a traveling solo act, Rice wore a burnt-cork blackface mask and raggedy clothing, spoke in stereotypical black vernacular and performed a caricatured song and dance routine that he said he learned from a slave, according to the University of South Florida Library.
Though early minstrel shows started in New York, they quickly spread to audiences in both the North and South. By 1845, minstrel shows spawned their own industry, NMAAHC says.
Its influence extended into the 20th century. Al Jolson performed in blackface in "The Jazz Singer," a hit film in 1927, and American actors like Shirley Temple, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney put on blackface in movies too.
The characters were so pervasive that even some black performers put on blackface, historians say. It was the only way they could work — as white audiences weren't interested in watching black actors do anything but act foolish on stage.
William Henry Lane, known as "Master Juba," was one of the first black entertainers to perform in blackface. His shows were very popular and he's even credited with inventing tap dance, according to John Hanners' book "It Was Play or Starve: Acting in Nineteenth-century American Popular Theatre."
Despite Lane's relative success, he was limited to the minstrel circuit and for most of his life performed for supper. He eventually died "from something as simple and as pathetic as overwork," Hanners wrote.
Such negative representations of black people left a damaging legacy in popular culture, especially in art and entertainment.
Minstrel shows were usually the only depiction of black life that white audiences saw. Presenting enslaved Africans as the butt of jokes desensitized white Americans to the horrors of slavery. The performances also promoted demeaning stereotypes of black people that helped confirm white people's notions of superiority.
"By distorting the features and culture of African Americans—including their looks, language, dance, deportment and character—white Americans were able to codify whiteness across class and geopolitical lines as its antithesis," NMAAHC says.
In modern discussion over blackface, its racist history is often swept under the rug or shrouded in claims of ignorance.
In a 2018 segment on "Megyn Kelly Today" about political correctness and Halloween costumes, the former NBC host said that when she was growing up, it was seen as acceptable for a white person to dress as a black person.
"But what is racist?" Kelly asked. "Because you do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface on Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character."
Her comments sparked widespread anger. She apologized, but her show was ultimately canceled.
White celebrities, college students and even elected officials have made similar claims of ignorance over past and current controversies involving blackface.
But NMAAHC is clear on this: "Minstrelsy, comedic performances of 'blackness' by whites in exaggerated costumes and makeup, cannot be separated fully from the racial derision and stereotyping at its core."
I’m not saying every case was that bad (Al Jolson clearly meant to show pure respect in The Jazz Singer, though I think that performance is also not considered PC today), but the roots of the blackface art form certainly are negative. It was pure mockery. Zip Coon? Jim Crow? The message was that blacks are lazy, stupid, inherently less human, and most of all unworthy of integration.
For a website where it’s common to see posts complaining about white men being used as comic foils in TV commercials, to not be able to recognize Zip Coon as offensive really takes some serious powers of bullshit.
MINERS hunkered
I suppose Sarah Palin deserved all the crap she got because she was white.
The purpose of the 'black face' abomination was to reinforced stereotypes about black citizens that WERE NOT TRUE. Showing blacks to be silly and childlike worked as an excuse to NOT grant blacks full rights.
This is the same tactic used by democrats in their portrail of conservative citizen with their "fake hate crimes" that reinforce stereotypes that are NOT true... about conservatives in our own time. Democrats are attempting to use 'black face/fake hate crimes' to show liberals they have the right to treat us as sub-humans - - just like democrats did to black citizens in the Jim Crow South and before...
My daughter is black, and I showed her “Babes on Broadway” with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. She wasn’t offended, and she has more standing the author of the piece.
The purpose of the 'black face' abomination was to reinforced stereotypes about black citizens that WERE NOT TRUE. Showing blacks to be silly and childlike worked as an excuse to NOT grant blacks full rights.
This is the same tactic used by democrats in their portrayal of conservative citizen with their "fake hate crimes" that reinforce stereotypes that are NOT true... about conservatives in our own time. Democrats are attempting to use 'black face/fake hate crimes' to show liberals they have the right to treat us as subhumans - - just like democrats did to black citizens in the Jim Crow South and before...
Here is an episode. It was funny and well-written. Holy mackerel Andy.
I was curious, and found this:
https://coleswildbird.com/fact-or-fiction-never-feed-rice-to-birds/
But, just in terms of mess, birdseed is nicer. I bet the birds like it more, too.
Al Jolson Shirley Temple, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney put on blackface in movies too.
I gather they will all lose their Oscars and Stars on Hollywood Blvd.
Does anything look more stupid than current touchdown celebrations?
Exactly.
Sheeesh...recently I was working out of town on a steel plant dust collector system. When I stopped for lunch and took my hardhat and mask off, others were noticing that the rest of my face was absolutely black.... and it apparently was hilarious enough that folks started taking pictures to show the others in my office that once in a while I actually get my hands (and face) dirty. In the future when I get asked about these pictures, I’ll just claim that I was doing the appropriating thing.... and therefore they should never send me on another job like that again.
My take on this article.....
Stereotypes are bad when white people do them.
Stereotypes are OK when black people do them.
They left that out? Good.
Couple of days ago they were calling Northam a REPUBLICAN.
Big minstrel scene in blackface with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in “Holiday Inn” - I enjoy it every time I catch the movie on TCM - sad others interpret it as “racist” and “offensive” - lots of things have offended me over the years - don’t remember anyone ever apologizing over any of it - and I’m still here - my advice, move on......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.