A Reader Reminds Us That It Wasn't That Long Ago That "Blackface" Was Perfectly Normal
02/15/2019
A+
|
a-
Print Friendly and PDF

Re: James Kirkpatrick's article Because GOP Won’t Oppose PC Feeding Frenzies, VA Blackface Scandal Turning Into Victory For Left

From: A Canadian Reader [Email him]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9f/Black_and_White_Minstrel_Show.jpgWith all the recent controversy and hubbub about people wearing blackface, did you realize there was actually a prime time TV show in Britain which ran from 1958 to 1978 that featured entertainers performing in blackface? It was called "The Black and White Minstrel Show". Here's the Wikipedia article on it:

The Black and White Minstrel Show was a British light entertainment show that ran for twenty years on BBC prime-time television. Beginning in 1958, it was a weekly light entertainment and variety show which presented traditional American minstrel and country songs, as well as show tunes and music hall numbers, and with lavish costumes. It was also a popular stage show.[More]

And here's some Youtube video clips:

 

James Fulford writes: I don't believe I ever saw the Black And White Minstrel show when it was on, but I saw British comic duo the Two Ronnies parody it here, as the Short and Fat Minstrel Show:

They also did yellowface, redface and brownface as required, but Ronnie Corbett always played the short one, and Ronnie Barker always played the stout one.

Print Friendly and PDF