@ McNeer 104

Nineteenth-century minstrelsy is most commonly remembered for its demeaning stereotypes of black Americans. However, as the first popular music style in the United States, minstrelsy exerted tremendous influence over the genres that followed it, including ragtime (the ancestor of jazz) and country. Today, a number of minstrel show tunes remain popular in American culture as folksongs, and contemporary musicians continue to refer to them on occasion.

A Presentation By Dr. Matthew Franke, Director of the Music History Program At Howard University.