Mar 6, 2023
I don’t imagine Jolson’s intent was to embarrass Black people who weren’t his target audience but to mock them, exaggerating their Blackness as many others did. There was a little cultural appropriation before it became a thing. I don’t see any humor in it, but it wasn’t meant for me. or you. If you were racist in that era, you probably would immediately see the humor that you and I miss.