1. What did the documentary mean by stating that a national conscience developed in the
United States around these caricatures?
The documentary meant that over time, the damaging racial stereotypes presented in these
caricatures came to become the focus of society, and their negative consequences were
eventually recognized on a national level.
2. Who created the Jim Crow character? What did the documentary present as the reasoning
behind its pervasiveness?
Thomas D. Rice, a white actor, created the Jim Crow image. Because it was in line with the
common racist attitudes among white audiences, the documentary likely gave the impression
that racism was common.
3. What did Eskine Peters argue for the reason behind “Birth of a Nation” acquiring such
popularity?
Eskine Peters might have argued that "Birth of a Nation" gained popularity due to its
sensationalized and racially biased portrayal of African Americans, appealing to white audiences
with prejudiced views.
4. How did the documentary comprehend the “smile” as one of the enduring features of these
caricatures?
The documentary probably used the "smile" as a reoccurring motif in these caricatures to depict
Black people as content, quiet, or happy in their oppressed roles, thus reinforcing negative
stereotypes.
5. What do you believe Lawrence Levine meant by saying that white people were “releasing
themselves as Black” when talking about the popularity of Blackface?
Without specific context, it appears that Lawrence Levine may have meant that white
performers engaging in blackface were adopting Black cultural elements for entertainment
while perpetuating stereotypes, allowing them to explore a racial fantasy while distancing
themselves from the reality of being Black in America.
