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Episode 7

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Published on:

13th Apr 2026

From Minstrel Shows to Memes: The History of Blackface in America

From minstrel shows to modern politics — Shannon and KK break down the deep history of blackface in America, why it was never just entertainment, and why whiteface is not the mirror image people claim it is.

This past week, a blackface photo of a sitting Georgia state representative surfaced, and it sparked a response that hit every note of the classic "I'm not racist" playbook. The receipts are read and the hosts give their thoughts on his response.

In Big Facts, Shannon traces blackface from its roots in 1828, when Thomas Dartmouth Rice stole a dance from an enslaved man and built a minstrel empire, all the way through Hollywood's golden age, the birth of Jim Crow laws, and the documented ways minstrel stereotypes still shape how Black people are perceived today.

Then the conversation opens up: Druski's conservative woman skits, the Wayans Brothers' White Chicks defense, Jack Harlow going full R&B, and the difference between resistance and racism.

No Lisa this week, but Shannon and KK hold it down.

*Referenced Episode - Mandingos Mammies, and Jezebels

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Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website

About the Hosts

Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.

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Follow Lisa - @monalisathepoet

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Copyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC

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About the Podcast

Blacktivities
Blacktivities connects the black history we never learned in school to everyday experiences and issues facing black Americans today. A blend of humor and insight, this podcast connects the past and present in an engaging and entertaining way.
Blacktivities is where Black women gather to talk about life, history, and everything in between. It’s a celebration of Black culture, Black perspectives, and the shared experiences that shape how we move through the world.
With the perfect balance of humor and depth, Blacktivities connects Black America’s past to the present through conversations that are thoughtful, relatable, and sometimes nostalgic. We talk about everyday life, current issues, and cultural moments the way they’re actually discussed off-mic.
Hosted by Shannon, Lisa, and Karen, the show centers Black women’s voices while showing that no two experiences are the same. Different viewpoints, real dialogue, and honest reactions all live here.
If you enjoy smart conversations that don’t feel preachy, cultural commentary that still knows how to laugh, and a podcast that feels like home, welcome to Blacktivities.
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About your host

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Shannon Chatmon

Shannon is a veteran educator, wife, mother of two, and host of the U Talk, I’ll Listen Podcast and Blacktivities Podcast. She started podcasting during the quarantine of 2020 at the height of arguments over racial justice, politics, and mask mandates when she decided to create her first podcast centered around listening to others’ stories, perspectives, empathy, and mental health. Check out Shannon’s SAC’s Facts segment on Blacktivities Podcast where she adds her own panache to black history.