Race
And
Representation
Minstrelsy in America – Context
The country
Minstrelsy in America - Context
Theater is THE entertainment of the day
1849 Astor Place Riot – Macready vs. Edwin Forrest
Edwin Forrest
as King Lear
Minstrelsy in America - Context
Boats, tents, wagons… theater on the road and in the wild in the 1800s
Minstrelsy in America - Context
Antebellum African American Theater
In 1821 the African Grove Theater
(NYC) launches the career of Ira
Aldridge (1807-1867), the first African
American acting superstar. This was
7 years prior to NY’s abolition of
slavery.
Unable to work in much of America
and underappreciated, Aldridge
traveled to Europe in 1852. He was
an immediate success and spent the
remainder of his career abroad.
Minstrelsy in America
Thomas R. Rice – 1806-1860
Until 1828 Rice performs in rural
Mississippi theaters. In 1828 he
hits on the character of Jim Crow,
a slave character who sings and
dances.
Come listen all you galls and boys
I’m just from Tuc-ky hoe;
I’m goin’ to sing a leetle song,
My name’s Jim Crow.
Weel about and turn about,
And do jis so;
Eb’ry time I weel about,
I jump Jim Crow.
Minstrelsy Takes America by Storm
In 1832 Rice brings his act to New York. By 1846 it’s popularity has
grown so that Minstrel shows are stand-alone entertainments all across
the country.
The Minstrel Show had two
parts. The first part consisted
of music and jokes: a middle
man who was the master of
ceremonies commonly traded
insults and jokes with the end
men, named Tambo and
Bones for their instruments.
The second part was a more free-form variety show with specialty acts,
dancing, and skits. Racial stereotypes were employed for comic effect.
This form was very popular even after the civil war and didn’t die out until
the 1920s. The Federal Theatre Project brought it back briefly in the 1930s.
Minstrel Variety
Minstrel Characters
Uncle Tom
Mammy
Zip Coon or Dandy
Sambo
Picaninny
Minstrelsy you can see
Straight up example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujanMkS_9zo
Vernon & Ryan, showing the donning of the blackface:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujanMkS_9zo
Howard Stern (very offensive – be warned):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Svv_SDkueQ
Harry Connick Jr. has a confrontation with Australian black face:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va51g59FGOc