Bump for the times and less drift elsewheres:

Origin: The Eyes of Texas (Are upon You)

RE: the black face legacy or connection in general:

Minstrelsy did not stand on its own. The distribution vehicle was the circus, vaudeville, medicine show &c. In terms of popular culture it's an entire century of radio, television, theater and cinema combined.

More people probably saw Uncle Tom's Cabin live, in black face, than read the book; second only to the bible in popularity for the century, the most effective piece of abolitionist popular art, bar none. At present, it's considered hopelessly racist.

Now there's just the one Uncle Tom's Cabin*, the only thing that changed was the audience. Heaven only knows what 2525AD will bring.

*There was, however, and entire sub-genre of Tom Show knock offs, spin offs and sequels – good, bad aaaand ugly. Some things in show business will nev-er-ev-er change.

Also, odd there are 2 threads, 195 posts and not one mention of shanties. Consider, chartered vessels were a regular occurrence, just like the modern tour bus & private jet. Sailors and the shows lived cheek by jowl for months on end all through the 19th century.