Going back to the 19th c-
Blackface minstrelsy was very popular in the British Isles during the 19th century (roughly 1830-1880). Troupes from North America performed there regularly, some troupes for long runs (e. g. the Ethiopian Serenaders at the St. James in London for a six-month period, and at another venue in London before that- seven months or more!- I believe in 1846). British broadsides reproduced the songs in large numbers (the song about Dinah, mentioned above, appeared in a British broadside of ca. 1835-1840; see thread 65298 and post of "Old Joe").
What influence did this have on English music? Did the minstrels affect British attitudes towards blacks?

The Encyclopaedia Brittanica for 1911 has a very derogatory essay about Negroes (musical ability but prone to fighting, mental capacity inferior, etc.). Did this reflect British middle class attitudes of the time?