The Malevolence of Minstrelsy (from "Burnt Corks & Cakewalks")

When minstrelsy emerged during Antebellum America, it became a big hit with audiences right away. Historian Rhae Lynn Barnes offers background to what a minstrel performance looked like back when it was the dominant form of entertainment, and how the racist messages tied to minstrelsy changed according to evolving social politics across the country.