Description: Jim Crow has long represented America's imperfect union. This edition of the earliest Jim Crow plays and songs presents essential performances assembling backtalk, banter, masquerade, and dance into the diagnostic American style. They celebrate blackness in a Republic that failed to unite until Americans agreed to disagree over Jim Crow's meaning.
Brief description: Actor T. D. Rice (1806-1860) popularized the Jim Crow character on the American stage.
Review Quotes: Rice's songs and burlesques collected in this fascinating volume are interesting only for their racist tinge and their importance as artifacts of early- and mid-nineteenth-century American show business...This book will fascinate students of history and aficionados of historical American theater.--Jack Helbig "Booklist" (11/1/2009 12:00:00 AM)