Hi GUEST. When putting out info on certain songs in the Irish repertoire, I have been chastised for suggesting that the originals were actually comic stage Irish songs poking fun at the Irish. Is this not similar to the Minstrel song situation? The overwhelming perception in modern society is all of these songs racial stereotyping are racist to some degree. And I agree with that perception.

However I would hope no-one would suggest we stop studying them, as that is denying history, and we all know where that leads.

Some interesting additions. I think it would be useful to add in other examples here now we have this thread running. Gibb, could you paste the New York Gals version here please? I take your point about the earlier the better. It might also be worth a look at the pre-minstrel black-face repertoire.

I will have another look at my early minstrelsy books for further possible examples.