> the librarian admitted that, in 1987, she had personally hidden some of these books because she feared the material would be used by the Ku Klux Klan.
That is so illuminating. I've seen something similar with irish history.
When it comes to the Irish Slaves Meme, white supremacist use of Irish history to reshape history for their political agenda exploded and took on a life of it's own which has little to do with actual Irish history.
It's great to see a historian deep diving original sources and including them in their work and discussing the challenges they had.
Facts and research are fundamental to history as a discipline as is context and the author reminds of this and not in a "read my book" way that she has written an academic study.
This article traces some of the history of minstrel shows, including what ultimately caused them to become less popular. While the civil rights movement largely contributed to its fall from popularity, much of the work of making minstrel shows taboo was done by women, particularly mothers, as they changed school curriculums. It highlights the importance of remembering this history, however painful it might be.
Growing up in the 50s 60s our Catholic parish church had a yearly minstrel show that began in the 1900s. Up until the early 60s it was in black face. It then became “clown face”.
CDfm | 22 hours ago
> the librarian admitted that, in 1987, she had personally hidden some of these books because she feared the material would be used by the Ku Klux Klan.
That is so illuminating. I've seen something similar with irish history.
[OP] Quouar | 22 hours ago
I'm curious about the context for Irish history! Could you tell me a bit more about what you mean?
CDfm | 15 hours ago
Gulp. I will take a stab at it.
When it comes to the Irish Slaves Meme, white supremacist use of Irish history to reshape history for their political agenda exploded and took on a life of it's own which has little to do with actual Irish history.
It's great to see a historian deep diving original sources and including them in their work and discussing the challenges they had.
Facts and research are fundamental to history as a discipline as is context and the author reminds of this and not in a "read my book" way that she has written an academic study.
[OP] Quouar | a day ago
This article traces some of the history of minstrel shows, including what ultimately caused them to become less popular. While the civil rights movement largely contributed to its fall from popularity, much of the work of making minstrel shows taboo was done by women, particularly mothers, as they changed school curriculums. It highlights the importance of remembering this history, however painful it might be.
Seandouglasmcardle | 17 hours ago
This is a fantastic video analyzing Al Jolson and blackface. It’s one of those things where the more I learn, the less any of it makes sense.
https://youtu.be/f5Tm7bMUhUw?si=nUNuUyH3rcuAQM3d
BcShyres | an hour ago
Growing up in the 50s 60s our Catholic parish church had a yearly minstrel show that began in the 1900s. Up until the early 60s it was in black face. It then became “clown face”.