Now this thread is a corker, folks; and we've some of the High Priests (and Priestesses) of the Art presiding as well, right out of the gate!

The "Minstrel" genre is one that dosen't get discussed as much as it deserves, IMHO, and that's probably due to our current cultural and racial "sensitivity". Now a little sensitivity is surely a grand thing; don't get me wrong, here... but like most anything it can be overdone, and I think we've seen that sort of thing running seriously amock and going haywire on us over the past several years or so.

Now "Butch" (great to have you aboard, Mate!) and I hang out with people who are known to "black up" and theatrically present, as authentically as possible, a period "Minstrel Show"... to a VERY select audience, with little or no advertizing, and that within a select community... for obvious reasons. I've never seen one that blatantly denigrated anyone's race any more than they apparantly used to, and they are as interesting as they are entertaining... and darn it; it's History!
Let's face it, folks; things were not always as they might better have been; we've come a long way - and pretending that it didn't happen, or coming up with some feel-good fantasy to replace it with (as many of our Government mandated factory indoctrination Centers, AKA "Public Schools" are so wont to do) is doing our Culture no favors. How'd you like to see the Students at your school put on a historically credible Minstrel Show (I can remember our school doing one in the early '60's), then discussing it's artistic, as well as racial implications? I'm not holding my breath here!

Wouldn't the "Minstrel Story" make one heckkuvva controversial motion picture, eh? I'd love to see one if it was competently done.. and anyone dares to do it!

As previously stated, the Minstrel phenomenon gave black and white American Musicians alike a novel oportunity to work creatively together, apparantly as peers in most cases, which I like to speculate opened a lot of doors for mutual respect and appreciation between the races. Who knows; for a white man to "black up" and role-play, even if in jest, it may well have created a new perspective and awareness for him as to the very human issues confronting his black Contrymen.
The stage gave black Artists an opportunity to get off of the plantation and strut his stuff before "de white folk" audiences all over America, England, and probably a few other exotic places as well. Those white folk might have laughed, but they were probably pretty darned impressed by the Performer's skill and artistry as well, regardless of race. Did the Mistrel Show provide the stirrup with which the black entertainer could mount to his well - deserved perch of credibility and acceptance in American Society? Debatable, sure; but I think that the art form probably did more to weaken the walls of racial seperation than to raise them, ultimately.

And This "Old Uncle' would surely love to hear a lot more of the Old Minstrel songs without having to worry about "offending" anyone, or having a hoarde of NAACP and ACLU Lawyers and "Leaders" frothing at the mouth and having conniption fits over it. I'll bet those old Minstrels could teach us all a lot about aquiring and developing a good sense of humor... an' 'dere be a lot o' folk out 'dere could shooore use one! Like dat lil' ol' "Guest" what come down fru' de' hole in de' roof wit' a rope, barkin' orders at ever'body like he own de place. Lawwwd; Hab MERCY, chile!!!