Al Jolson Blackface Minstrel Show

[EmptyHero]

this aint a minstrel show "the big bang theory" that pile of shit is a real minstrel show

[derGrex2008]

well it is of course racist... it´s entertainment for the racist white people...

BUT i think the ones doing it werent that racist. They helped a lot and i guess entertaining someone by making fun of yourself is better than dying in slavery

[NAGANEGUS]

Racist as hell.

[TheSaxon49]

fucking fantastic, this is the best, do not be ashamed for the past, do not say sorry to the libs in uk.

[mariobro1993]

This is not exactly racist...but the whole idea of blackface is.

Racism- Hatred based on ignorance.

[IMFRESH3000]

How could anyone "like" these videos?

[ShiningOne10]

I'm a black girll and to me, Al Jolson never implied negative stereotypes when he did blackface. For example, in this clip, he seems to be impersonating an average black man not a "coon."

[35westst]

Some of his best friends were coloured people.

[Marxeen]

You have to remember, Blackface was ok during that time. And censoring is just as bad as being racist because it still wont go away... And besides if Looney Tunes uses your image a lot then its ok.

[tifo316]

@Marxeen You must be a child.

[Marxeen]

@tifo316 i just turned 19 so yea

[tifo316]

@Marxeen So your only a year younger than me. Wow, then you should really educate yourself. Blackface is racist.

[iiiMUNiiiQUE]

@NEGRITUVENEKA You realize it's a caucasian man wearing black make-up, right...?

[NEGRlTUVENEKA]

muahahahahahahahahahahahaha the neggers singing an dancing muahahahahahaha

[xxxMazooxxx]

Racism at its finest. Whites live for it. Hence why they still come to this video to try and justify their racism. How fortunate that I have just about zero fucks to give when it comes to the opinion of racists

[ledgo22]

@xxxMazooxxx

So in short you want to live in ignorance? Well, whites and blacks will leave you be, as most people are, you know, living in the modern day as HUMANS.

[redfordforpresident]

Nobody called Michael Jackson a racist when he did whiteface.

[theEmperorsTarot]

What part of anything about what Al Jolson sang here is racist? All of what he's singing is common music, its not even as bad as some of the stuff comedians do today concerning muslims, hispanics, what have you, even other blacks, Its worse today

[tuxy56]

This is the degradation of a race for self gain and quite abhorrent 'entertainment'. Who cares whether he had hatred in his heart when he did it; he was complicit in extreme racism and he shouldn't forgotten for doing so. Forgiveness is another thing.

Irrelevant that he 'opened doors', those doors would have opened as soon as business-types found black music and culture to be marketable.

[usamuun]

@tuxy56 The problem is, it WASN'T marketable because of the racist attitudes. Minstrel shows themselves were racist, yes. I think the difference here is that Jolson was trying to make a point that talent is talent, and him putting on "blackface" didn't change the show unless the audience was in fact racist. It helped break down walls in the sense that people HAD to do away with stereotypes and such after watching performances like this. It's ironic, really.

[ValentinaSL]

Actually this is funny music made in a funny way... They were doing their show without any attention of being bad but just mocking like some artists do now with the politics or others matters. But true all deppens on the context this kind of show was done.

[sarafranco100]

this is really disturbing

[BootyFister]

I JUST MASTURBATED TO THIS VIDEO.

[koberpat]

defffs racist

[eric5906]

The darkies can scream and shout about this but it's still terrific entertainment.

[ReligionSickinsMe]

Do any of you know anything about Al Jolson? He was at not time the most famous entertainer in the world. He was single handedly responsible for bringing "black" music into the mainstream because of his love for it. Jolson was to jazz, blues, and ragtime what Elvis Presley was to rock 'n' roll according many biographers. Read a book...

[cinephilefromhell]

And @drax7 how can one people who are prejudiced against be against another one?

[NoiseLTD]

@cinephilefromhell You have a lot to learn about human nature.

[cinephilefromhell]

@murraymae well technically the Holocaust was a fad. It was in a limited amount of time with a mass following calling for extinction of a persecuted and innocent people. It isn't happening now and when looked back upon, the majority thinks of it with disgust.

[murraymae]

35westst, child molestation is not a fad idiot. Neither is racism, neither is genocide or rape or serial killing, neither is drunk or texting while driving, neither was the holocost. The hula hoop was a fad. The Twist was a fad. The Charleston was a fad.. I only wish stupid people were a fad.

[35westst]

Today everyone is a "racist" it's just the current fad. In my childhood everyone was terrified of being called a communist; and, before that, a witch. Acutally today it's "child molester" the big one, the current fad. These things go in cycles. In 10 years it will be...who knows?

[hildawhitby]

Depends on the context. I think a minstrel show is, at the very least, racially condescending, even if some were MEANT well. A movie ABOUT a minstrel showman, like this clip, is just fine, though.

But now we have men doing drag shows, and it's the same damned thing.

[riseuplight]

Minstrel performances originated from the fascination of black culture, not hatred. These performers wouldn't spend so much energy doing this if they hated the people they were trying to embody.

[Thisistheman91]

Is theatrical history folks get the fuck over it... No one in this generation has gone through this kind of bigotry or racism so stop bitching and be happy you live in a more tolerant society

[murraymae]

@Thisistheman91 ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? AM i BEING PUNKED??????  Why is this ok with so many people??? Unless its YOUR face up there with big pink lips and banjo eyes --you have no right to tell anyone to get over it.

[tcambridge86]

For those who don't believe are obviously not black. SMFH. Minstrel shows depicted us dumb, lazy, and always dancing. I'm so disgusted.

[GMYellowstone]

To all the people who don't like this, here's an idea:

DON'T WATCH IT!!!!!!

[draxx77]

May Al Jolson rot in hell!

[BRUTUALTRUTH]

AL Jolson was not a racist and I hate racists. The songs Jolson sung emphasized the love that American B;ACKIES had for their mammies and family.

[tictoc111]

THIS IS SO RACIST!!!!!! BLACK PEOPLE DONT EVEN LOOK LIKE THIS!!!!!!!

[mac081793]

@tictoc111 Yes they do.

[SapphireSparta]

I wish I could say "These were the better days" but.... you know, history is history.

[msherer260]

Come on, Jolson in black face was no different then other performers wearing costumes, KISS, DAVIED BOWIE, LEO SAYER, ELTON JOHN, and on and on...sometimes performers need props to help them get to where they are going..Making a living performing. most of people you know of that wear somekind of mask or outfit want you to remember them and if your a performer you want to be known.

[nitromell]

lmao white people are odd for this!

[bphutchins]

thanks for this, a classic, and a part of americana

[YurgesBitch]

He wasnt racist at all, when he did this he opened allot of doors for black entertainers at the time. He did this for entertainment. not racist at all!

[ikachina]

@YurgesBitch

Jolson was not a racist and you're right about him helping blacks in the business. Entertainment in blackface is racist now and it was racist then but that doesn't mean the person doing it is necessarily a racist. It may be a matter of historical context or simply ignorance.

[draxx77]

@ikachina Nope, he EXPLOITED BLACKS, he was a racist JEW, that got rich off of black suffering.

[usamuun]

@ikachina I am finding minstrel shows very complex. I know they were bred out of racism, and many of the artists might have been. But if the artist, as in this case, was NOT racist, and the show was respectable and showcased true talent while presenting themselves in blackface, is that actually racist? Isn't Jolson's point to show a "black man" as equally talented and entertaining? I don't see how that is racist at all. The negative culture is what was racist, and this was trying to UNDO it. ?

[draxx77]

@YurgesBitch

Easy for YOU to say!

Stop defending racism!

[NoiseLTD]

@YurgesBitch Whether of not Jolson was racist depends on what you mean by the term. Minstrel shows tended to depict blacks in a certain way, as talented and sensitive, but carefree, sentimental and cheerful in a childlike manner. This characterization had elements of truth but was a symplification. Today we scruple at these depictions, but they can contain an element of truth.

[MultiTrollHunter]

@YurgesBitch stupid deluded old fool. You honestly don't consider this shit racist? What the fuck is wrong with you?

[goldie0800]

Marvellous to see the original! Thanks so much.

[tomfy1979]

wtf!?

[Freethinker12341]

so is this supposed to be racist or what? i'm not sure....i can't tell lol

[MsRESPECT90]

@SKBaneTek

Evidently not too much.

[298625]

Now that's entertainment

[298625]

Great rendition of Stephen Foster song with the incomparable Jolie.

[diarci]

Not to be picky, but Jolson actually spent less than two years with Dockstader's minstrels. He did appear in blackface for most of his stage career, but not as a minstrel.

[ikachina]

@diarci

You're not being picky, but I would argue that if someone is performing in blackface on the vaudeville stage then he would still be considered a minstrel performer.

[cleophuseugiene]

@ikachina I would argue that someone would need to be in redface to be considered a menstrual performer.

[ikachina]

@cleophuseugiene

lol

Good one!

[MrUnidyne]

@ikachina If he had pains in his side before going on-stage, would those be pre-minstrel cramps?

[ikachina]

@MrUnidyne

lol

Good one!

[joehancock01]

THANKS LORD someone posted it.... ive been waiting ages for this to be posted xD =D