Jim Crow (character)

Blackface minstrel character / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Jim Crow persona is a theater character — developed and popularized by entertainer Thomas D. Rice (1808–1860) — in his minstrel shows, a racist depiction of African-Americans and of their culture. Rice based the character on a folk trickster named Jim Crow that had long been popular among black slaves.[1] Rice also adapted and popularized a traditional slave song called "Jump Jim Crow" (1828).[2]

A man in blackface costumed in eccentric, formal clothes with patches, dances making exaggerated motions with one hand on hip.
Actor Thomas Dartmouth Rice as "Jim Crow" (1836)

The character conventionally dresses in rags and wears a battered hat and torn shoes. Rice applied blackface makeup made of burnt cork to his face and hands[3] and impersonated a very nimble and irreverently witty African-American field-hand who sang, "Come listen all you galls and boys, I'm going to sing a little song, my name is Jim Crow, weel about and turn about and do jis so, eb'ry time I weel about I jump Jim Crow."[3]