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267: The Faces of Racism: A History of Blackface and Minstrelsy in American Culture

EPISODE · Feb 8, 2019 · 35 MIN

267: The Faces of Racism: A History of Blackface and Minstrelsy in American Culture

from BackStory · host BackStory

Nathan talks with historian Rhae Lynn Barnes about Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s 1984 yearbook page and its link to a long and disturbing history of blackface minstrelsy. They discuss how white civic organizations used minstrel shows for fundraising, why the era known as Jim Crow is named after a minstrel character, and what must happen to prevent people from donning blackface going forward. THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SOME LANGUAGE THAT PEOPLE MIGHT FIND OFFENSIVE. 

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267: The Faces of Racism: A History of Blackface and Minstrelsy in American Culture

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