Blackface was an important performance tradition in American Theatres beginning in 1830. In the United States and Britain, blackface was the most commonly used in the minstrel performance. White blackface performers used burnt cork, greasepaint, or shoe polish to blacken their skin and exaggerate their lips, often wearing wigs or eooly hair pieces. They would also wear raggedly clothes to complete the transformation. Stereotypes played a huge role in racist images, attitudes, and perception of the African American culture in a negative way. Changing attitudes about race and racism in the mid 20th century effectively ended blackface makeup used in performance in the United States. It is still used today outside the U.S. as social commentary and satires.
It's amazing to see how early stereotypes begin and the extremes of them. I think it is inevitable that stereotypes and attitudes toward races/cultures will never die out. This reminds of the international movement of eugenics. It was a belief that difference in class and culture are the result of biology. It was a new science of genetics- this caused segregation for scientist of this time period believed african americans were incapable of the mentality of whites. All of this leads to stereotypes which then leads to segregation.
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