Blackface in America: A Hidden History

In the late 1800s, a disturbing trend began to spread across America: people painted their faces black for entertainment. It started with professional performers but soon became a part of everyday life, from schools to the military.

Fraternal groups used blackface as a way to bond. A club called the Elks, founded by minstrel performers in 1868, taught new members how to do it. The idea of “darkology” – turning blackness into a commodity – grew inside these circles and later spread to popular music, books, and films.

The government also played a role. During the Great Depression and World II, President Roosevelt helped distribute blackface shows through a federal theater program. Soldiers were given makeup kits to entertain their comrades, and even Japanese‑American prisoners received the same racist costume.

After World War II, civil rights activists began to fight back. The NAACP targeted blackface in schools and public events, pointing out how it hurt children’s self‑esteem. Some universities tried to replace blackface with “greenface”, but the tradition often returned in disguise.

A notable protest came from a young woman named Betty Reid Soskin. When her son’s school planned a minstrel show, she sat in front of the performance and demanded it stop. Her action helped lead to a ban on blackface in California schools.

Today, new forms of racism appear online. Some people use technology to create “digital blackface”, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Politicians have also faced backlash for past blackface performances, showing the issue is still alive.

This history shows how a once‑common practice has left deep scars and why it matters to keep questioning the past.