At its peak, The Black and White Minstrel Show was watched by a Saturday night audience of more than 20 million people. David Harewood goes on a mission to understand the roots of this strange, intensely problematic cultural form: where did the show come from, and what made it popular for so long? With the help of historians, actors and musicians, David uncovers how, at its core, blackface minstrelsy was simply an attempt to make racism into an art form - and can be traced back to a name and a date.
Acting
Harewood's controlled rage barely contained in polite BBC voice.
Production
Brutal archive footage you can't believe aired until 1978.
Writing
Connects Victorian America to your nan's Saturday night.
Director
Eric Haynes
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Black and White Minstrel Show won a BAFTA in 1962 and ran until 1978—longer than Doctor Who's original run.
British audiences often dismiss blackface as 'American evil'—this doc exposes how the UK exported and perfected it.
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