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Questions and Answers
W. E. B. DuBois described the dilemma of Negro identity as a kind of:
W. E. B. DuBois described the dilemma of Negro identity as a kind of:
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In the context of the text, the term 'double-consciousness' refers to:
In the context of the text, the term 'double-consciousness' refers to:
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The American world yields the Negro no true self-consciousness but only lets him see himself through the revelation of:
The American world yields the Negro no true self-consciousness but only lets him see himself through the revelation of:
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What did W. E. B. DuBois compare the Negro to in the context of the text?
What did W. E. B. DuBois compare the Negro to in the context of the text?
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What does the 'doubleconsciousness' open up for the Negro?
What does the 'doubleconsciousness' open up for the Negro?
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According to W. E. B. DuBois, what does being a Negro gifted with second-sight mean?
According to W. E. B. DuBois, what does being a Negro gifted with second-sight mean?
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What did DuBois argue about Negroes seeking validation?
What did DuBois argue about Negroes seeking validation?
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What was the misunderstood title of Carl Van Vechten?
What was the misunderstood title of Carl Van Vechten?
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What did the American race relations reveal through theatrical stage?
What did the American race relations reveal through theatrical stage?
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In which professions did the text mention Negroes' theatrical genius?
In which professions did the text mention Negroes' theatrical genius?
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When did the emergence of authentic black dramas occur according to the text?
When did the emergence of authentic black dramas occur according to the text?
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How did the Yiddish theater in NYC maintain ethnic authenticity?
How did the Yiddish theater in NYC maintain ethnic authenticity?
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What did the Jewish community support in NYC after the Civil War?
What did the Jewish community support in NYC after the Civil War?
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What was the audience's role in the improvement of performances in Yiddish theater?
What was the audience's role in the improvement of performances in Yiddish theater?
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What did Negro intellectuals of the 1920s want to produce?
What did Negro intellectuals of the 1920s want to produce?
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What was the European ethnic community that flourished in NYC after the Civil War?
What was the European ethnic community that flourished in NYC after the Civil War?
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What did Yiddish theater maintain through its language and themes according to the text?
What did Yiddish theater maintain through its language and themes according to the text?
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What was Carl Van Vechten's title misunderstood to be in Harlem according to the text?
What was Carl Van Vechten's title misunderstood to be in Harlem according to the text?
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What was the primary audience of the minstrel shows?
What was the primary audience of the minstrel shows?
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How were the theatrical darky characters portrayed in the minstrel shows?
How were the theatrical darky characters portrayed in the minstrel shows?
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What values did the American culture promote in the 19th century?
What values did the American culture promote in the 19th century?
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What did the achievement ethic of the American Dream emphasize?
What did the achievement ethic of the American Dream emphasize?
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What persona did white men create to escape the pressures of success and anxiety-ridden achievement ethic?
What persona did white men create to escape the pressures of success and anxiety-ridden achievement ethic?
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What did the minstrel shows reinforce about African Americans?
What did the minstrel shows reinforce about African Americans?
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What concept emerged in the early 19th century centered on individual success and upward mobility?
What concept emerged in the early 19th century centered on individual success and upward mobility?
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How did white men escape the pressures of the achievement ethic in the minstrel shows?
How did white men escape the pressures of the achievement ethic in the minstrel shows?
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What was at odds with the negative stereotypes reinforced by the minstrel shows?
What was at odds with the negative stereotypes reinforced by the minstrel shows?
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'Double-consciousness' is a term that refers to:
'Double-consciousness' is a term that refers to:
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'The American Dream' implied the possibility of:
'The American Dream' implied the possibility of:
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What was the purpose of white men using blackface masks in the 19th century?
What was the purpose of white men using blackface masks in the 19th century?
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What did Frances Trollope's book 'Domestic Manners' criticize?
What did Frances Trollope's book 'Domestic Manners' criticize?
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What led to imitations of Trollope and laughter from the audience at a theatrical performance?
What led to imitations of Trollope and laughter from the audience at a theatrical performance?
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What were Americans concerned about amidst democratization and expansion?
What were Americans concerned about amidst democratization and expansion?
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What did the blackface minstrel character combine?
What did the blackface minstrel character combine?
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What was the symbol of otherness for white men in the context of blackface?
What was the symbol of otherness for white men in the context of blackface?
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What did English people also enjoy in addition to American blackface performers?
What did English people also enjoy in addition to American blackface performers?
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What anxiety did white Americans have regarding real-life black people in relation to the blackface minstrel character?
What anxiety did white Americans have regarding real-life black people in relation to the blackface minstrel character?
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'Little Black Sambo,' Indian niggers, African niggers, and Polynesian niggers were stereotypes associated with which group?
'Little Black Sambo,' Indian niggers, African niggers, and Polynesian niggers were stereotypes associated with which group?
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What did the blackface minstrel provide for white men?
What did the blackface minstrel provide for white men?
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What was the purpose of the blackface minstrel performance for white men?
What was the purpose of the blackface minstrel performance for white men?
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How did some black performers achieve distance on stage?
How did some black performers achieve distance on stage?
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What did wearing black masks on stage represent for black men?
What did wearing black masks on stage represent for black men?
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Why was maintaining distance crucial and difficult for black men?
Why was maintaining distance crucial and difficult for black men?
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What did Bert Williams and George Walker attempt to do with the minstrel character?
What did Bert Williams and George Walker attempt to do with the minstrel character?
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What did ethnic humor assume about the performer?
What did ethnic humor assume about the performer?
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Why was every failure evidence of racial limitation for black men?
Why was every failure evidence of racial limitation for black men?
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What was the purpose of wearing black masks on stage for black men?
What was the purpose of wearing black masks on stage for black men?
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What did some performers use stereotype as according to the text?
What did some performers use stereotype as according to the text?
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What did ethnic humor assume about performers?
What did ethnic humor assume about performers?
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What was a significant obstacle faced by Negroes in engaging with American popular theater?
What was a significant obstacle faced by Negroes in engaging with American popular theater?
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What emotional needs did blackface minstrel shows serve according to the text?
What emotional needs did blackface minstrel shows serve according to the text?
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Who were the standard American comedy types underneath the burnt cork in blackface minstrel shows?
Who were the standard American comedy types underneath the burnt cork in blackface minstrel shows?
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Which type of theatrical group featured entertainers closely following the traditional model even in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
Which type of theatrical group featured entertainers closely following the traditional model even in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
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Why did Charles Hicks turn over the Georgia Minstrels to a white man in 1865?
Why did Charles Hicks turn over the Georgia Minstrels to a white man in 1865?
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What was a characteristic of minstrel shows in terms of their structure?
What was a characteristic of minstrel shows in terms of their structure?
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Which group had little commercial choice but to play the 'Stage Negro' type in commercial theater?
Which group had little commercial choice but to play the 'Stage Negro' type in commercial theater?
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Who organized the Georgia Minstrels in 1865?
Who organized the Georgia Minstrels in 1865?
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What allowed Jews and other immigrants coming into the United States at the end of the 19th century to continue or develop their own popular culture?
What allowed Jews and other immigrants coming into the United States at the end of the 19th century to continue or develop their own popular culture?
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Who were not mimics of slaves according to the text?
Who were not mimics of slaves according to the text?
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Who first appeared in the commercial theater through the 'Stage Negro' type?
Who first appeared in the commercial theater through the 'Stage Negro' type?
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Who remained close to the traditional model even in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
Who remained close to the traditional model even in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
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Study Notes
- Jews and other immigrants coming into the United States at the end of the 19th century faced less hostility than Negroes due to lack of a strong American tradition, allowing them to continue or develop their own popular culture.
- Negroes, on the other hand, were alienated within American experience and lacked an alternative culture, making it difficult for them to engage with American popular theater.
- Blackface minstrel shows, originated in the early 19th century by white performers, were a formidable tradition that had a strong hold on American imagination, serving important emotional needs.
- Blackface minstrels, such as Jim Crow and Jim Dandy (or Zip Coon), were not mimics of slaves, but rather standard American comedy types underneath the burnt cork.
- Minstrel shows, which were predominantly white-created and performed, had a rigid structure with opening, interlocutor, end men, and a grand finale.
- Negroes first appeared in the commercial theater through this "Stage Negro" type, as they had little commercial choice but to play this white creation.
- Charles Hicks, a Negro, organized the Georgia Minstrels in 1865 but turned it over to a white man due to hostility towards a Negro business manager.
- Charles Callender's Georgia Minstrels became the first successful all-black theatrical group, featuring entertainers like Billy Kersands and Sam Lucas, who remained close to the traditional model even in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Description
This quiz explores the influence of the minstrel tradition on present-day white and black comics in American commercial humor. It delves into the limitations and impact of the tradition on the creation of an ethnic theater for blacks.
