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bobcat7781 t1_iu1e2ow wrote

Reply to comment by Animanialmanac in The Anders Family Halloween Party, Baltimore, MD, 1923 by jazzytazzy00

> Also two people in black face,

I'm seeing a guy in the back row who might be in black face ... or he might actually be black (and probably a servant). I'm not seeing any others.

> so was “black person” a Halloween costume choice?

In those days, probably. Keep in mind, "The Jazz Singer" which included a black face scene came out 4 years after this photo.

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Animanialmanac t1_iu1uns2 wrote

There are two people in blackface, on the computer screen it’s clear both the man in the back and the young boy in the front are in makeup. But like I said I’m glad we’ve come past that as a society.

It’s funny you mention The Jazz Singer, it is one of the most famous examples of whitewashing African American talent, the movie was launching pad for Al Jolson, especially since many audiences at the time loved jazz but would not listen to or go see black artists.

It’s only been five years or so since Bobbie Berger stop performing his Al Jolson impersonation in blackface. Imagine a Baltimore police officer thinking it’s acceptable to put on black face because 100 years ago a white Baltimore jazz singer did it. We still have a long way to go as a society.

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bobcat7781 t1_iu4jobd wrote

I'd say it's less clear on the man because he did the ears better, but the presence of the boy in the front greatly increases the likelihood that the man in the back is in blackface. The fact that he didn't exaggerate the lips (common in blackface depictions) was the main reason I wasn't certain.

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