Bill Harris's blog

Birth of a Notion; Or, The Half Ain't Never Been Told

April 27, 2010 by Bill Harris

      Minstrelsy was the first pop cultural entertainment phenomena in young 19th century America.  It was mostly immigrant males hoping that by performing amusing but racist portrayals of African Americans they would throw off the stereotypical notions regarding their kind, and be accepted by and as white Americans.  These stereotyped impersonations served as the template for American amusement for the mass until today.  Birth of a Notion considers the situation from the dark side, intending to reflect the process back on itself.