blackface

Blackface is a form of makeup and performance in which a non-Black performer darkens their skin, lips, and other facial features to caricature Black people, often accompanied by exaggerated speech and gait. The term refers to a long tradition in minstrel shows and later popular entertainment in the United States, where white performers used blackface to portray Black characters, typically in a demeaning or stereotyped way.

Origins date to the 1830s in American theater; minstrel shows featured stock characters such as Jim Crow and Zip Coon. The performances relied on stereotypes including jovial servility, foolishness, or lazy, hypersexualized behavior; the makeup, costumes, and dialect reinforced racial hierarchies and justified discriminatory practices.

Impact and criticism: Blackface has been widely condemned as a racist practice that dehumanizes Black people and normalizes racial caricature. It played a role in justifying segregation and discrimination; in the civil rights era, scholars and activists contested it.

Contemporary status: Many universities, schools, theaters, and media outlets prohibit blackface or require that any portrayal of a non-Black character is done with actors of the appropriate ethnicity or through nonracial makeup. Public apologies and policy changes have followed controversies, including costume choices for events and productions.

Alternatives emphasize casting Black actors for Black roles or using costuming that does not imitate racial characteristics. The topic remains contested, with ongoing discussion about representation, cultural sensitivity, and historical context.