How blackface became a permanent fixture of American cultural identity
In short: Why does the use of blackface continue to spark such intense outcry? This talk explores how mimicking African descent through stereotypes and makeup became deeply embedded in American theater, music, and literature.
Dwan Reece, a curator at a prominent national museum, examines how blackface functions as more than just a performance. It is a cultural legacy of oppression that has permeated the American psyche over centuries.
The presentation demystifies the history of these practices to show why they are not merely harmless entertainment, but rather a persistent reflection of systemic inequality in books, music, and various other media.
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Sources
- Source: TED — Dwan Reece: The origins of blackface and Black stereotypes | TED · YouTube (embedded player only)
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