Stereotypes created by Blackface

Thomas Rice playing Jim Crow at the Bowery Theatre(1833)

Stereotypes have been a big consequence from blackface performances. In the image, we can see Jim Crow, who was a popular caricature in minstrel shows. In the image, he is dressed in tarnished clothing, appears to be walking in a weird fashion, and is in the jungle. It shows people of color as appearing to belong in the wild. The weird way of walking was a common gag bit at these shows. Rice played "“Daddy Jim Crow,” a caricature of a shabbily dressed African American man."(Waggoner, 2007) The stereotype of poor and poorly dressed carried on for almost all minstrel shows. 

Stereotypes have been a big problem in society for races and cultures. Stereotypes of people of color have been largely impacted and created through minstrel shows. Some that stuck around for a while were that people of color are dirty, poor, have poor manners and grammar, that they move in animalistic ways and many more. These stereotypes are harmful and create a world of negative biases toward people of color as they are depicted to be barbaric. Some people still see it this way and think of African Americans are dangerous, when they have been trained to perceive them this way.

This is a costume discription from the minstrel show "The Echo"(1867)

The costumes used in minstrel shows can show another way in which African American stereotypes were produced. As white people were applying tar to their faces, they needed to dress the part as well, according to the directors of minstrel shows. In the minstrel show "The Echo", we can see in the costume description how this is true. For a character named Steve, his costume involved, "coarse overall trousers, showing striped stocking..., coat looking too small for him...,ragged pocket handkerchief"(Williams,1867). This image carried on for a long time and was seen in roles even when people of color were cast.

The costumes were insulting to the African American community. However, the occurrence of this in shows made a stereotype that people of color in this time were raggedy and unable to take care of their things. They were perceived as dirty, which was a common misconception for a long time. When we follow stereotypes too closely, it can be dangerous. A misconception that we have discussed is that African Americans are more prone to diabetes. When we really uncover these stereotypes, we can see that this is because of low income that does not allow for purchase of nutritious foods, often leading to poor health, making it easier to become diabetic. Stereotypes cover up socioeconomic issues.

Article from Oregon Education Journal about how minstrel shows have created stereotypes about the African American community. 

Stereotypes were not recognized in the time of minstrel shows the way that they are today. No one really thought of the influence they would have and more so thought of it as entertainment and a way to laugh and the inferior. In this article from the Oregan Education Journal it says, "The stereotyped characterizations of the Negro personality are widely accpeted by uninformed Americans. Most of these are not viciously prejudiced, but grossly misinformed"(Portland Urban League). Many people did not have exposure to black communities at this time, and formed biased opinions from these shows. 

This concept of being misinformed is common in today's society. With school not trying to be involved in issues of the past, they are neglecting admitting how much wrong was done. We are told that slavery was bad, but that is about as far as it goes. Nothing is done to prevent negative stereotypes from reiterating themselves. Without doing this, society accepts that the social structure we have in natural, instead of understanding the measures that were taken to make sure whites stay supreme. Stereotypes of people of color being dangerous still exist as well as being uneducated, which is caused actually by social structure.