Evolution of Blackface Entertainment and Emergence of Black Performers

The chapter traces the evolution of blackface entertainment from its introduction to the wider public, the dominance in popular culture, to the eventual rise of black performers narrating their own stories. It discusses the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation, the emergence of African-American minstrel troops, the challenges faced by black performers in a predominantly white industry, and the groundbreaking acts of black stars like Burt Williams and George Walker.