Black Stereotypes in 19th Century America

Black Stereotypes in 19th Century AmericaAdventures of huckleberry finnThomas CarlyleEnglish poet and philosopherCriticized Englands emancipation of West Indian slavesPamphlets and cartoons picked up and widely circulated by proslavery forces in AmericaReiterating popular myths Ideas persisted during and after Civil WarCommon StereotypesUnmotivatedUnintelligentUncivilized

Not equipped for independenceQuashees Dream of EmancipationUses stereotypes as source of humorCan be used to understand racist stereotypes of eraQuashee among most popular West Indian namesName came to represent popular racist stereotypesPolitical CartoonsEmancipation Proclamation and Northern attitudesSubjects drawn from writings ofThomas CarlyleThomas JeffersonSouthern slavery advocates

Quashees Dream of EmancipationClockwise, from top left:Panel 1: He dreams that massa and he exchange positions, as above.Panel 2: He dreams that he is feted at Washington, and solicited to stand for Congress.Panel 3: He dreams that the young missis humbly waits upon him while he reads the Tribune.Panel 4: He imagines himself a Brigadier-General seated in a stagebox at Wallacks Theatre.Panel 5: He dreams that all the light and easy employments at the North and elsewhere fall into his mouth.Panel 6: He awakes to find that Emancipation hasnt much altered his position after all.Quashee and Huck FinnstereotypesWhat stereotypes are represented in the Quashee panels?How are these depicted?charactersWhat characters in the novel display these characteristics?What might have been Twains point?Minstrel ShowsWhite mans characterization of plantation slave and free blacksCaricatures took hold of American imaginationAudiences expected dark skinned people to conform to one or more stereotypes

Minstrel ShowsDim-wittedLazyBuffoonishSuperstitiousHappy-go-luckyMusical Minstrel ShowsHeight of popularity 1830-1890Remained popular into 1920sStaple of talent shows until 1960s

Jim CrowThe term Jim Crow originated in 1830 when a White minstrel show performer, Thomas "Daddy" Rice, blackened his face with burnt cork and danced a jig while singing the lyrics to the song, "Jump Jim Crow."

Zip CoonFirst performed by George Dixon in 1834, Zip Coon made a mockery of free blacks. An arrogant, ostentatious figure, he dressed in high style and spoke in a series of malaprops and puns that undermined his attempts to appear dignified.

MammyMammy is a source of earthy wisdom who is fiercely independent and brooks no backtalk. Although her image has changed a little over the years, the stereotype lives on. Her face can still be found on pancake boxes today.

Uncle TomToms are typically good, gentle, religious, and sober. Images of Uncle Toms were another favorite of advertisers, and "Uncle Ben" is still being used to sell rice.

BuckThe Buck is a large Black man who is proud, sometimes menacing, and always interested in White women.

Wench/JezebelThe temptress. During the minstrel era, wenches were typically a male in female garb. In film, wenches were usually female mulattos.

MulattoA mixed-blood male or female. In film, often portrayed as a tragic figure who either intentionally or unintentionally passes for White until they discover they have Negro blood or are discovered by another character to be Black.

PickaninnyPicaninnies have bulging eyes, unkempt hair, red lips, and wide mouths into which they stuff huge slices of watermelon.

Mr. T. Rice as The Original Jim Crow, ca. 1832 sheet music cover

History ob de World (Boston, 1847)

Plantation scenarios were common in minstrelsy, as shown in this post-1875 poster for Callender's Colored Minstrels.

Commercial Club Minstrels, Belvidere, Ohio, 1910.Minstrel Manby Langston Hughes

Because my mouthIs wide with laughterAnd my throatIs deep with song,You do not thinkI suffer afterI have held my painSo long?

Because my mouthIs wide with laughter,You do not hearMy inner cry?Because my feetAre gay with dancing,You do not knowI die?How many stereotypes does Hughes manage to pack into only 16 lines?

You have 2 minutes with your group to identify as many as possible.

2 minutes