African American Entertainment  “Eat ‘yo eggs!”

Blackface  Theatrical makeup used to imitate the racist archetype of the “darky” or “coon”  White performers used burnt cork, greasepaint or black shoe polish  Theatrical makeup used to imitate the racist archetype of the “darky” or “coon”  White performers used burnt cork, greasepaint or black shoe polish

Minstrel shows  Performers played lazy, cowardly, superstitious buffoons  Plots mostly involved stealing and lying  Performers played lazy, cowardly, superstitious buffoons  Plots mostly involved stealing and lying

Role of African Americans  Law required that black people must wear blackface to appear on stage  Alternatives were few: manual labor or service to whites  Referred to as “corking”  Law required that black people must wear blackface to appear on stage  Alternatives were few: manual labor or service to whites  Referred to as “corking”

“Coon songs”  Over 600 songs written from  “No Coons Allowed  “The Man in the Moon is a Coon”  “The Coons are on Parade”  Over 600 songs written from  “No Coons Allowed  “The Man in the Moon is a Coon”  “The Coons are on Parade”

Minstrel show: 2000  Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled” is about black performers who compromise their integrity for ticket sales  Ends with all clips of racially insensitive films  Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled” is about black performers who compromise their integrity for ticket sales  Ends with all clips of racially insensitive films

Image becomes icon  Used to sell products from games to food  One restaurant chain called “Coon Chicken Inn”  Used to sell products from games to food  One restaurant chain called “Coon Chicken Inn”

Racism sells

Disney uses the image  1933  Mickey’s Mellerdrammer shows Mickey in blackface  Crows in Dumbo  1933  Mickey’s Mellerdrammer shows Mickey in blackface  Crows in Dumbo

The Jazz Singer  First “talkie”  Starred Al Jolson ( a Jewish immigrant) in blackface  Believed that he was helping the black cause by exposing black music to white audiences  First “talkie”  Starred Al Jolson ( a Jewish immigrant) in blackface  Believed that he was helping the black cause by exposing black music to white audiences

Mammy  Iconic figure from “Gone With the Wind”  Solid, earthy voice of wisdom  Large, unattractive appearance  Iconic figure from “Gone With the Wind”  Solid, earthy voice of wisdom  Large, unattractive appearance

Amos and Andy  Starring two white performers who pretended to be black friends “Amos and Andy”  Dominated radio from 1929 to 1945  Ran as a TV show until 1960  Starring two white performers who pretended to be black friends “Amos and Andy”  Dominated radio from 1929 to 1945  Ran as a TV show until 1960

Good Times: 1974  Poor but hardworking family living in a Chicago housing project  Father refuses to take handouts  JJ becomes buffoonish -- “Dynomite!”  Poor but hardworking family living in a Chicago housing project  Father refuses to take handouts  JJ becomes buffoonish -- “Dynomite!”

The Cosby Show  Aired in 1984  Features a wealthy black doctor and his lawyer wife  Episodes are light and humorous  Showcased famous black singers, such as Stevie Wonder  Aired in 1984  Features a wealthy black doctor and his lawyer wife  Episodes are light and humorous  Showcased famous black singers, such as Stevie Wonder

2006: Crash  Film explored racism against many diverse groups  Characters are complicated- neither bad nor good but all flawed  Film explored racism against many diverse groups  Characters are complicated- neither bad nor good but all flawed