Children in Halloween Costumes (one child wears blackface), October 30, 1948
Description
- Mystery Question
- Can you identify any of the people in this image?[Please answer by clicking on the Comments tab]
- Creator
- Marjorie Ruddy, Photographer
- Media Type
- Image
- Item Type
- Photographs
- Description
- A black and white photograph of children dressed up for Halloween. One child is dressed in blackface.
- Notes
- Content Note: Blackface was a practice, popular in the 19th and 20th centuries, where white people artificially darkened their skin in order to portray a caricature of Black people. This practice was and is highly racist.
Blackface performers were key features of Minstrel shows, a popular form of entertainment in North America. A goal of minstrel music was the creation and reinforcement of stereotypes about Black people with the goal of legitimizing white dominance, particularly following the abolishment of slavery in the United States.
Minstrel troupes travelled throughout Canada and blackface was a favourite form of entertainment for local amateurs at fundraisers for schools, police forces, community groups, churches, and charitable organizations.
The Whitby Rotary Club held its first minstrel show for fundraising purposes in its inaugural year in 1933. This show continued until 1964. - Inscriptions
- Envelope: (1) Mrs. George / Halloween / Party / Oct. 30/48
- Date of Original
- October 30, 1948
- Date Of Event
- October 30, 1948
- Dimensions
-
Width: 5 in
Height: 3 in
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Ruddy, Marjorie
- Local identifier
- ruddymg_024_001
- Language of Item
- English
- Geographic Coverage
-
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Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.6796823112636 Longitude: -79.3465769290924
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- Copyright Statement
- Public domain: Copyright has expired according to Canadian copyright law. No restrictions on use.
- Contact
- Whitby Public LibraryEmail:archives@whitbylibrary.ca
Website:
Agency street/mail address:405 Dundas Street West, Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A1
For inquires about any newspaper content please contact askreference@whitbylibrary.ca
