Final answer:
Blackface minstrelsy was a form of 19th-century entertainment that used racial stereotypes to amuse predominantly white audiences and affirm white supremacy. The practice featured white actors in black makeup mocking African Americans and is linked to the Jim Crow era of racial segregation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Blackface minstrelsy was created as a form of entertainment that emerged in the 19th century. Predominantly white actors would use makeup or soot to darken their skin and perform in a way that stereotyped and mocked African American people. These performances were meant to provide comic relief but also reinforced racial stereotypes and solidified a sense of white supremacy among audiences. An infamous character from this practice was "Jim Crow," named after a white actor's stage persona, which eventually became associated with the laws of racial segregation and oppression.
The performances often portrayed African Americans as dim-witted, lazy, buffoonish, and otherwise inferior, which justified discriminatory practices in the society of the time. The Jim Crow caricature was emblematic of how blackface perpetuated negative racial stereotypes and supported the institution of segregation. Despite the offensive nature of blackface, it became ingrained in American entertainment culture, influencing vaudeville and early American musical theater, which occasionally featured African American performers like Bert Williams, albeit under racially prejudiced conditions.