African American Entertainment Essay

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There were four major forms of entertainment in America before 1860. Theatres were open to everyone and some could hold nearly 4,000 guests for a show. However, theatres were also well-known for their disorderly audiences and prostitutes. In the 1840’s minstrel shows began appearing in northern cities. They were biased and expressed the prejudices of the working-class and were extremely racist toward African-Americans. White men painted their faces black and preformed for the audiences. While there were some ties to African-American culture, the majority was based in white culture. Newspapers were another common pastime in America. They were generally only four pages long, with two of the pages being advertisements, and were usually sponsored …show more content…
Just like in the past, entertainment today can still be biased and revolved around stereotypes. However, instead of just focusing on African-Americans, there are stereotypes about every group in today’s society. Some of today’s entertainment is family friendly, but just like minstrel shows there are some forms of entertainment that are inappropriate for children. Unlike past entertainment women have a much bigger role in most pastimes. The biggest difference is likely the advancement of technology. Present entertainment revolves mostly around some form of technology or media, while in the past most pastimes were in person or on paper. There are some forms of entertainment that still exist today from the antebellum period. While minstrel shows can no longer be found, newspapers and books are still common throughout the country. While P.T. Barnum’s American Museum no longer exists, museums are a common form of entertainment today. Also, Barnum’s circus later was renamed Barnum & Bailey The Greatest Show on Earth, and joined with The Ringling Brothers for nearly 150 years before closing (“P.T. Barnum”). Also theatrical performances are found across the country, with the same themes of heroes and villains that were found in melodramas of the past (Stewart 9). Many of our present day pastimes are influenced by past forms of entertainment and continue to delight American citizens
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