Advertisment for a mistrel show

The minstrel show was an American form of entertainment. It was developed in the 19th century. Each show was of comic skits, dancing and music performances that showed people of African descent. The shows were played by mostly white people in makeup or blackface for the purpose of playing black people. There were also some African American performers and black-only minstrel groups that formed and toured.

Minstrel shows parodied blacks and African Americans as happy-go-lucky, lazy and dim-witted.