Rhae Lynn B.: The first are the string bands, and they basically practice banjo classics, which are the minstrel standards, year-round, and the banjo, of course, is the iconic instrument in pretty much all minstrel shows. She says, “These categories have roots that can be traced back to slavery and blackface minstrelsy.” Participants are organized into clubs that compete in four distinct categories, string bands, fancies, comics, and wench brigades, but according to scholar Rhae Lynn Barnes, the history of the Mummers Parade isn’t all fun and games. Visitors come from far and wide to see this unique spectacle.īrian Balogh: Founded in 1901, the Mummers Parade has been a beloved Philadelphia tradition for over a century. On New Year’s Day, some 15,000 Philadelphia Mummers will strut their stuff on the streets of the city. On that day, they become Mummers, climaxing months of top-secret planning, practicing and drilling. Amid the excitement, onlookers strain to catch a glimpse of the extravagant costumes, lively performances and elaborate floats of one of the city’s most unique traditions, the Mummers Parade.īrian Balogh: New Year’s Day marks a very special event in Philadelphia, an event that transforms a lot of ordinary people into a famous tradition. Nathan Connoll: If you’re new to the podcast, along with our colleague Joanne Freeman, we’re all historians, and each week we explore the history of one topic that’s been in the news.Įd Ayers: We’re going to start today’s show in Philadelphia where huge crowds gather on Broad Street to celebrate New Year’s Day. Nathan Connoll: Welcome to BackStory, the show that explains the history behind today’s headlines. Speaker 2: From Virginia Humanities, this is BackStory. Speaker 1: Major funding for BackStory is provided by an anonymous donor, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation. Can respected traditions of American culture be separated from their racist undertones? How does the legacy of blackface still permeate American society? This lesson forces students to confront questions about the racist underpinnings of American culture. Many of these participants have no knowledge of the history of the event. Though the history of the Mummers Parade has an undeniable connection to blackface and racial stereotypes, thousands of people look forward to watching and participating in this annual tradition. Though blackface was officially outlawed from the event in 1964, examples of racism, sexism, and bigotry have endured. This legacy was challenged during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, leading to a conflict between African American groups and event participants. It also has a history of explicit racial overtones and blackface. This Philadelphia New Year’s Day tradition is one of the oldest folk festivals in the United States. Though there are countless examples of blackface used in various forms of entertainment, the Backstory episode highlights the legacy of blackface in the Mummers Parade. This unfortunate legacy continued into the 20th century. Used as a form of mockery and vehicle for promoting racial stereotypes, minstrelsy was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the late 19th century. It emerged as a byproduct of minstrel shows following the American Civil War. This lesson focuses on the enduring history of blackface in American culture. The ensuing fallout from this revelation brought blackface and its presence throughout US history back to the forefront of American discourse. The photograph, from his time at Eastern Virginia Medical School, showed a person wearing blackface standing next to another person wearing a Ku Klux Klan uniform. In early 2019, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam was embroiled in a political scandal regarding his use of blackface in a 1984 yearbook photograph.
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