From the 1800s through the 1920s, minstrel shows were very popular. Minstrel shows were the predecessor to Vaudeville shows (variety theater shows). Minstrel shows were the equivalent to today's act of going to the movie theater.
Despite how negatively these shows portrayed black culture, they did good in that they paved the way for jazz's popularity by bringing the sounds of country blues and other sounds of black culture to white America.
It was not uncommon for actors in minstrel shows to perform in black face (as seen in the video). Sometimes even, freed slaves would perform in black face in minstrel shows. By doing this, the audience wouldn't necessarily know they were watching a black performer and thus were okay continuing to watch the show. Most often times, these free slave actors would adapt character they themselves created for the show.
Daddy Rice was perhaps the most successful minstrel show leader. He had a multitude of successful shows and had a heavy impact on the general public. Two characters which he created became integrated into the culture of the time: Zip Coon and Jim Crow. Because of how popular these names became, imagine how popular the music predating jazz was becoming.
"To the person who uses music as a medium for the expression of ideas, feelings, images, or what have you; anything which facilitates this expression is properly his instrument" - Bill Evans
A further note on Jolson from Wikipedia: As early as 1911 he became known for fighting against anti-black discrimination on Broadway. Jolson's well-known theatrics and his promotion of equality on Broadway helped pave the way for many black performers, playwrights, and songwriters, including Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and Ethel Waters.
I was wondering whether the older woman on the show was his real Mammy, but it turns out she died when he was 10.
I know Wikipedia is becoming more and more credible, but I have to doubt this. I find it hard to believe that a person performing in blackface would be respectful towards black people.
I'm inclined to believe Wikipedia and other online sources regarding Jolson. I don't think there's necessarily a corelation between performing in blackface and human rights activism. Please read the paragraph here on blackface, second section down. This is from Jolson: A Biography by John Kenrick (Copyright 2003). It puts the use of blackface into the context of the times. Does that explanation sound credible to you? Besides Wikipedia, there are other places that talk about Jolson's anti-racism, such as this: "Actually Al Jolson was noted for his anti-racism back in a time when 15% of the American voters were members of the KKK. He helped introduce black music that he was influenced by to a mainstream white audience and fought to allow black musicians to be given the chance to perform. It's noted also that he was the only white man that was ever admitted to an all black club in Harlem back then too." "Al Jolson was a civil rights activist who threatened to “punch” restaurant owners if blacks were not seated and served equally to whites. He purposely used blackface to bring black music to white audiences, to foster understanding between races; and was responsible for the first black performers allowed on Broadway. These facts should not be omitted from the discussion. It unfair that Jolson’s contributions to African American rights are automatically considered offensive when they are depicted. Instead of hiding and burying these facts, we should widen the discussion to include how this era in history served to strengthen race relations and move us forward as a society." I could be wrong. It could all be revisionism. I'd be interested in anything you find that contradicts this.
That explanation does sound credible. I suppose in the context of the time it was acceptable. I just can't imagine anything like that going on today. I can't seem to find anything to contradict it. It does seem that Jolson was in face anti-racist. It's very interesting how different something can be perceived simply by changing the time it is perceived in.