The use of the Blackface goes back to England as a form of entertainment, known as the Minstrel Show, to convey political messages, which is nothing more than another milestone in the history of political propaganda.

The Abolition Movement used the Minstrel Show as a way of showing parts of the country why it was a good thing to label and classify based upon stereotypes, to preserve the U.S. as a christian nation in its peculiar institution.

Was there foreign funding involved?

Josephine Baker, St. Nicholas & Zwarte Piet
Civil Rights activists

Probably.

The reason why is because the Blackface goes even further than just England, but to Renaissance Belgium, Luxembourg , as the Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, the sidekick of St. Nicholas, who was a Moor, and not a slave.

There is a legal and class difference between a Moor and a slave.

(This was before the U.S. version of Santa Clause, who decided to go with the slave labor motif of elves.)

Sadly, the Blackface slipped from the history books, intentionally, but the tradition carried on as a social norm in society found in high school yearbooks.

I call this entire hot mess the Blob, because it keeps growing, and growing, and growing.

So, if I have offended anyone, then I have been successful in the purpose of this post.

Happy Colored History Month!