The African American became the characterization of minstrel shows because these shows emerged during a time of intense racism and discrimination against black people in the United States. Minstrelsy originated in the early 19th century, and was a form of entertainment in which white performers donned blackface makeup and portrayed stereotypical and often offensive caricatures of African Americans.
Black performers were eventually allowed to participate in minstrel shows, but they were required to wear blackface and perform the same offensive and derogatory stereotypes as their white counterparts. These shows reinforced and perpetuated harmful racial stereotypes and contributed to the dehumanization and marginalization of African Americans in American society.
As slaves, African Americans were denied the basic rights and freedoms afforded to white people, and were forced to endure brutal and dehumanizing treatment at the hands of their white oppressors. As freed people, they continued to face discrimination, segregation, and violence, and were often forced into low-paying, menial jobs with little opportunity for advancement.
The characterization of African Americans in minstrel shows reflected and perpetuated the racist attitudes and prejudices of the time, and helped to justify the continued subjugation and mistreatment of black people in American society. While minstrelsy eventually fell out of favor in the early 20th century, its legacy of racism and prejudice continues to be felt in American culture today.