Legacy of Blackface Minstrelsy

Blackface Legacy

Influence of Minstrel Shows in Modern Music

Minstrel shows date back to pre-Civil War times. Since then, the minstrel show, and elements thereof, have been assimilated into modern culture. Despite this assimilation, minstrelsy still conveys themes of racism and continues to propagate negative stereotypes of African-American culture.

Modern minstrel shows continue to be a popular form of entertainment although this entertainment is not necessarily classified, or labeled, as a minstrel show. Historically, minstrel shows' popularity waned at the turn of the century and into the mid-20th century as African-Americans made significant gains in combating racism and other social injustices (Lee). Traditionally, African-Americans were portrayed as "stupid, foolish, overly happy, and ignorant," but through hard work, protests, and advocacy, these perceptions began to change and African-Americans began to be more accepted as a part of society and not as a group outside of it (Lee). Among some of the major influencers to these changes were Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., both of whom sacrificed their lives for the rights African-Americans have been afforded.

However, in more recent times, the civil rights and equality advancements made during this era have slowly become undone through Black entertainment that praises and glorifies negative stereotypes of the African-American community. In "Is Hip-Hop the New Blackface?," Shariff Rasheed argues that the work of these leaders, among others, has become unraveled because hip-hop artists use their music to influence listeners to embrace negative stereotypes and to tell them "what to wear, how to talk, what to like and dislike" (Rasheed). In other words, these new cultural leaders are not advocating social change or advancement for the betterment of the community, but rather are focusing on an individual's image and the development of "street cred." Rasheed continues, "These ignorant lyricists are the slave masters that abuse young minds by whipping the oppression into them and hanging the glorification right on them…These so-called lyricists rap about 3 topics, "Ice, Girls, and drugs" and think it is ok to tell fantasy stories about their rise to fame." Rasheed further argues that these types of hip-hop artists "talk ignorant…look foolish…dress outrageous…and are considered heroes because they are on television." These types of hip-hop artists embrace every negative stereotype associated with the Black community, which is further cemented on their impressionable audience by the media and their perceived financial and social successes. These hip-hop artists have become the racist caricatures of classic minstrel shows and have set back the civil rights movement through their depictions of success, which focus on crime instead of education.