Up Next
Back to Show
Amanpour & Co.
How Blackface Embedded Itself in American Culture
Blackface, a dehumanizing caricature of Black Americans, became a staple of entertainment in the 19th century. Rhae Lynn Barnes traces the toxic roots of blackface and the way in which it seeped into so many parts of American life. She argues that the effects of this derogatory practice are still being felt. Barnes discusses her 20 years of research and why this conversation is still so important.
Support Provided By
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:46
Merav Michaeli; Nasser Al-Kidwa; Jeffrey Goldberg; John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter