Looking back at blackface and its racist history onstage and on-screen- Page 2

[Niles Silvers]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 3:05am

SweetLips22 said: "My goodness--the more I think about it now.

To start every show--'Ladies and Gentlemen....It's The Black and White Minstrel Show'---always a big cheer and the male chorus starting the show with 'Saints go marching in'.

George Mitchell, a white Englishman who originated the show and 'sound' that we created occasionally flew out and would conduct us on stage--a real treat for us.

but the part I laugh about, before every medley, it was always, 3 rim shots and we were in !!

We had studio recorded all the vocals so we could sing over the tape. We had at least 8 costume changes and every medley had a theme, be it roaring 20s, pirates or romantic waltzes and we had to dance with each change. The reason for the tape was to maintain that George Mitchell 'sound' as we couldn't do it while dancing.

Of course the tape, yes TAPE, sometimes broke, so thank goodness we had an orchestra-we recorded the vocals with piano bass and drums-so they played louder and we sang louder when we could until they got the 2nd tape lined up to go.

I know I digress from the main topic and making this all about 'me', but it's just to share my experience working for many years as a Minstrel without any other thought except performing."

wtf?

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 9:10am

OlBlueEyes said: "You are right that white men are not comfortable about giving up power to minorities. It was white men, after all, that settled the country and fought for its existence. It was the white men not of my generation, but of my father's, that wereput to the test in 1941, The First World War was a ludicrous and barbaric display of everything foolish and stupid about the white men who controlled Europe at the beginning of the century. The Vietnam War was well-meant to save the world from the Russian threat, but the notion of losing the cold war by means of the domino theory in retrospect seems almost nutty and not worth the death of 50,000 men and the physical and mental maiming of 50,000 more. An excuse might be that the white men who had fought in Europe were genuinely afraid of cruel Joe Stalin and his absolute disregard of any moral restraints.

But the Nazis in Europe and the Japanese in China were pure evil and had to be stopped. The white men, not the white women, suffered horribly. And the white men wonder if those in charge now would have faced that responsibility or looked the other way for as long as possible."

By “white men, after all, that settled the country”, I assume you know this means stealing land that didn’t belong to them and subjugating the native peoples. And then enslaved people from another country to work that land. 

And please do not forget that brown and black men also fought in all the wars you mention. They would have fought more in some of these wars, but white men prohibited it. 

You also say “The white men, not the white women, suffered horribly.”  White men have held most of the power in the U.S.A. since the beginning and all women have suffered greatly for it. If you mean they didn’t suffer in the wars the way men did, keep in mind many of these men returned to women who also suffered through the repercussions of what war does to their loved ones.  

But you are right. Some white men are terrified of losing their power. That explains in part that dumpster fire of an election two years ago that we’ve been paying for on a daily basis since. 

 

 

 

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 11:14am

Ah, it's The Thread That Goes Wrong.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 4:36pm

OlBlueEyes has shown extreme homophobia during the Tony Awards and now extreme racism. 

 

[Steve C.]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 5:57pm

IMO, I think a big part of displaying racial and stereotypical bigotry is also, knowing what you're going into see just TO see that part of a show or movie. Also blackface, could and in some ways does, promote the fascination, power and talent that became jazz and the blues. There of course were spirituals, but that goes so far back into religious beliefs also.

Did I go to see Shuffle Along for blackface? Hell, no! Did I go to hear Blake and Sissel and see that fabulous once in a lifetime cast? Absolutely!

As a film history student, the instance of blackface are too many to mention. Not all of those seem to be racist and seem to celebrate the music. I don't like seeing Judy Garland in blackface but it happened. Eleanor Powell was one of the finest and widely regarded best tap and modern dancer from the 30's and 40's but do I want to see her in blackface, again, no. Have you ever seen Joan Crawford in blackface in Torch Song? Horrendous!

It's for these reasons I still find it hard to watch Will and Grace. they still portrayed the lisping, drag queen as if it was the 70's. And maybe someone can refresh my memory about the show with the lesbian theater tech or carpenter. These shows were not written 80 years a go. Discuss amongst yourselves....

 

 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 6:49pm

OlBlueEyes said: "Nice post, Wayman. It's just that Roosevelt and Kennedy are such liberal icons of the 20th Century. Kennedy called Jefferson a great man. Is there any way that Jefferson could be excused for being a slave owner, and such a major one? That he could be praised for his good side and have the bad side overlooked? Did Roosevelt give a little praise to Lee because of a sincere belief or because he wanted to carry Texas in the next election? If you look too closely at people they will always disappoint you.

You are right that white men are not comfortable about giving up power to minorities. It was white men, after all, that settled the country and fought for its existence. It was the white men not of my generation, but of my father's, that wereput to the test in 1941, The First World War was a ludicrous and barbaric display of everything foolish and stupid about the white men who controlled Europe at the beginning of the century. The Vietnam War was well-meant to save the world from the Russian threat, but the notion of losing the cold war by means of the domino theory in retrospect seems almost nutty and not worth the death of 50,000 men and the physical and mental maiming of 50,000 more. An excuse might be that the white men who had fought in Europe were genuinely afraid of cruel Joe Stalin and his absolute disregard of any moral restraints.

But the Nazis in Europe and the Japanese in China were pure evil and had to be stopped. The white men, not the white women, suffered horribly. And the white men wonder if those in charge now would have faced that responsibility or looked the other way for as long as possible."

Uh you do realize that African-Americans fought in the Union armies in WW2, and served as soldiers in all subsequent wars? Your racism/ignorance is appalling.

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 12:10am

Well, there is no way I could defend myself against this outburst of vitriol, nor would there be any reason for me to try.

The flawed people who built this flawed country using flawed methods are right to fear handing over the power to the ignorant rabble who reside here

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 12:21am

OlBlueEyes said: "Well, there is no way I could defend myself against this outburst of vitriol, nor would there be any reason for me to try.

The flawed people who built this flawed country using flawed methods are right to fear handing over the power to the ignorant rabble who reside here"