Final answer:
False. African American performers were present in the theater during the nineteenth century.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the question is False. It was not rare to see African American performers on the stage in nineteenth century America. While it is true that African American performers faced racial discrimination and limited opportunities, they were still present in the performing arts. In fact, there were successful African American performers in vaudeville and minstrel shows, and the first full-length, all-black musical on a major Broadway stage called In Dahomey opened in 1903. African American performer Bert Williams also joined Ziegfeld's Follies of 1910. These examples demonstrate that African American performers were indeed present in the theater during the nineteenth century.