Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Object |
Print, photographic |
Photographer |
Bow, J. Alexander |
Date |
1961 |
Print size (inches) |
10" x 8" |
Description |
Black and white photograph of the cast of the 1961 Norshaft Lions Minstrel Show. All but four performers are in blackface makeup. Backdrop of the stage shows "Norshaft Lions" and images of white gloves, and banjos. The show took place April 7th and April 8th. Photograph taken by J. Alexander Bow, a professional photographer of Bennington, Vermont. All participants are identified on paper attached to bottom of photo. |
Information |
The 1960 census counted 519 black residents of Vermont — just 0.133 percent of the total population. As one of the historically whitest states in the country, racism has been easy to overlook in the Green Mountains. In 1965, Governor Phil Hoff, a strong supporter of civil rights, claimed "Vermont has no significant racial problems." However, blackface minstrel shows, such as the annual one staged by the Norshaft Lions Club in April 1961, were widely popular in Vermont until the mid-to-late 1960s. With their use of overtly racist, demeaning stereotypes, these shows aided in the entrenchment and institutionalization of racism. In an Associated Press article published in the Bennington Banner a few days after the Norshaft Lions performance, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People advocated for the universal elimination of blackface performances. |
Related People |
Bow, James Alexander |
Credit line |
Gift of Shirley Hewitt |
Catalog Number |
1998.11 |