Well spoken Don Q.
I wouldn't think it a stretch at all to view today's buskers as minstrels - at least those who play and sing v. juggle, or mime.
Having been one who has busked on occasion (odd times out of need, most times out of fun) the "minstrel" heritage is a proud one - good proud, not bad.
Yes, the minstrel shows of Steven Foster's day, and thru to vaudeville, were in blackface. Racist yes, yet providing and preserving a rich hertitage.
Read auto-bios from George Burns, Milton Berle, Al Jolson, the Marx Bros, etc. and you'll find, though all used blackface, the bite of racisim wasn't part of it for them.
Thanks for the sites all. Good stuff.
Remember that one catch phrase on Laugh-In in the late 60s: "Here come da judge, here come da judge!" Straight outta vaudeville and minstral shows. Same-same the spirit of the "gag."
Mr. Interlocketer! Mr. Interlocketer!
Raise a cup of kindness to The Minstrels.
The Rez
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It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive
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