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Modern incarnations of blackface and minstrel shows in American culture: the representation of African-American women in gangsta rap
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Modern incarnations of blackface and minstrel shows in American culture: the representation of African-American women in gangsta rap
Annotation
PII
S032120680006301-5-
DOI
10.31857/S032120680006301-5
Publication type
Article
Status
Published
Authors
Anna Sebryuk 
ORCID: 0000-0003-1601-5787
Occupation: Associate Professor
Affiliation: Higher School of Economics
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Edition
Issue 9
Pages
108-125
Abstract

In recent years, the theme of blackface has again become a pressing issue in American society because of the scandals that have flared up around prominent instances of its use and the taboo of even mentioning it in public. Blackface is a form of theatrical make-up worn by a performer in minstrel shows as a caricature of the appearance of a black person. First appearing in the 19 century, these popular entertainment performances existed for more than 150 years and became part of general American entertainment culture. Moreover, they played a considerable role in reinforcing and spreading stereotypes about the character and behavior of African Americans. This article reveals the main reasons why any visual and costumed parody of people with dark skin is considered socially unacceptable today. The author considers the problem of contemporary American gangsta rap being offensive to African American women through its use of minstrel show racial stereotypes. Furthermore, the author suggests that the representation of black women in American culture is always closely and inextricably linked with the history of racism and sexism in the U.S.; traditionally, black women were contrasted with the ideal images of white women. Despite the fact that well-known caricatures such as Mammy, Sapphire, and Jezebel have undergone significant changes due to social and political evolution in the United States, their negative legacy is still found not just in broader American society, but within the African American community itself.

Keywords
ethnic stereotypes, racism, gangsta rap, blackface, minstrel show, African American community
Received
06.06.2019
Date of publication
29.08.2019
Number of purchasers
92
Views
3814
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0.0 (0 votes)
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S032120680006301-5-1 Дата внесения правок в статью - 21.08.2019
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