Отзвуки «блэкфейса» и менестрель-шоу в современной американской культуре: репрезентация афроамериканских женщин в гангста-рэпе

США и Канада: экономика, политика, культура. 2019. Т. 49. № 9. С. 108–125.

Sebryuk A.

In recent years, the theme of blackface has again become a pressing issue in American society because of the scandals that have flared up around prominent instances of its use and the taboo of even mentioning it in public. Blackface is a form of theatrical make-up worn by a performer in minstrel shows as a caricature of the appearance of a black person. First appearing in the 19 century, these popular entertainment performances existed for more than 150 years and became part of general American entertainment culture. Moreover, they played a considerable role in reinforcing and spreading stereotypes about the character and behavior of African Americans. This article reveals the main reasons why any visual and costumed parody of people with dark skin is considered socially unacceptable today. The author considers the problem of contemporary American gangsta rap being offensive to African American women through its use of minstrel show racial stereotypes. Furthermore, the author suggests that the representation of black women in American culture is always closely and inextricably linked with the history of racism and sexism in the U.S.; traditionally, black women were contrasted with the ideal images of white women. Despite the fact that well-known caricatures such as Mammy, Sapphire, and Jezebel have undergone significant changes due to social and political evolution in the United States, their negative legacy is still found not just in broader American society, but within the African American community itself.

Keywords: расизм, racism, American culture, американская культура, хип-хоп культура, African Americans, hip-hop, ethnic stereotypes, blackface, gangsta rap, minstrel show, African American community, афро-американское сообщество, блэкфейс, шоу менестрелей, менестрель-шоу, гангста-рэп