Minstrel Shows

Minstrel shows originated in the U.S. and involved a white performer, almost always male, performing in blackface. Performances included singing, dancing comedy sketches, and skits which portrayed African Americans in stereotypical and often degrading ways. Minstrel shows span a long period in American history beginning around the 1820's and continuing until the 1950's. The following is a collection of posters, sheet music covers, and photos portraying various minstrel groups.

"The Cherry Pickers" ; Thatcher, Primrose & West's Consolidated Mammoth Minstrels, late 1800's

Detail from cover of The Celebrated Negro Melodies, as Sung by the Virginia Minstrels, 1843

Poster for Haverly's United Mastodon Minstrels

Commercial Club Minstrels, Belvidere, Ohio, 1910

Later minstrel shows, like the one shown here, reduced the the wearing of black makeup in oreder to appear more refined. In this particular photo, only a few performers on either end are in blackface.

A very early illustration of the Harmoneons Carolina Minstrels from the cover of a piece of sheet music published in 1845. The group was unusual for their inclusion of a woman performer.

The following is a passage from a website on the history of minstrel shows which discusses some of the social impacts of American minstrel shows:

"Music was a central aspect of the minstrel show.  For many white northerners, the minstrel shows were their only glimpse into black southern slave life, music, food, and culture.  Though skewed and unrealistic, the performances brought issues of slavery to the hearts and minds of white Americans. Popular musical instruments such as the banjo, tambourine, and bones (like spoons) taken from Black-American culture were fashionable due to the popularity of minstrel shows.  The melody, lyrics, and structure of many songs used in minstrelsy were assimilated from slave spirituals and African-American cultural expression.  Some shows, like Ethiopian Serenaders, attempted to keep to clean and inoffensive material.  The focus of their show was to feature talent rather than slapstick and bawdy jokes.   However, most shows featured grossly distorted characters of African-Americans being stereotyped as lazy, superstitious, and happy-go-lucky.  Skit and song subjects often featured a grossly inaccurate depiction of slave life and using a humorous view of the mistreatment of slaves.  A common song theme featured a runaway or freed slave missing his master." (http://www.otrcat.com/minstrel-shows-3-civil-war.html)