Racism

Edwin Pearce Christy is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He will find success as a composer, singer, actor and stage producer, more commonly known as E. P. Christy. he is perhaps best-remembered as the founder of the hugely popular blackface minstrel group Christy's Minstrels.

A programme of "refined vaudeville", featuring The Jennie Eddie Trio (Novelty singing and comedy), Boyce And Wilson (Black-face fun-furnishers who dance) and Zoe Matthews (The popular Casino girl) is presented at The Ocean View Theatre, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

Clarice Vance, billed as "The Best Singer Of Coon Songs", plays at The Palace Theatre, New York City, USA.

The Hungarian Gypsy Band, The Chapelle Sisters (Songs and Acrobatic Dances) and McIntyre And Heath in 'Georgia Minstrels - The Personification Of Whole-souled Irresistible Fun" are among the entertainments on offer all week at Chase's Polite Vaudeville Theatre, Washington DC, USA.

The Hungarian Gypsy Band, The Chapelle Sisters (Songs and Acrobatic Dances) and McIntyre And Heath in 'Georgia Minstrels - The Personification Of Whole-souled Irresistible Fun" are among the entertainments on offer all week at Chase's Polite Vaudeville Theatre, Washington DC, USA.

The Hungarian Gypsy Band, The Chapelle Sisters (Songs and Acrobatic Dances) and McIntyre And Heath in 'Georgia Minstrels - The Personification Of Whole-souled Irresistible Fun" are among the entertainments on offer all week at Chase's Polite Vaudeville Theatre, Washington DC, USA.

The Hungarian Gypsy Band, The Chapelle Sisters (Songs and Acrobatic Dances) and McIntyre And Heath in 'Georgia Minstrels - The Personification Of Whole-souled Irresistible Fun" are among the entertainments on offer all week at Chase's Polite Vaudeville Theatre, Washington DC, USA.

The Trocadero Quartette present "Their black-face character creation - The Telephone Agent" during a week at Chase's Theatre, Washington DC, USA. Also on the bill are The Hungarian Gypsy Band, "comedy trick violinist" Chevriel and "The Dainty Singing And Dancing Comedienne" Kitty Fox Allen.

The Black Patti Troubadours play at The California Theatre, San Francisco, California, USA. The Black Patti is a popular nickname for African-American soprano Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones, who found the 'Black Patti' identity and the coon songs and minstrel tunes associated with it, extremely distasteful.

Singer and "coon impersonator" May Henderson plays the last night in a week of shows at The Empire, Brighton, Sussex, UK.

Williams And Walker are starring in their musical show Sons Of Ham at The California Theatre, San Francisco, California, USA. (A popular song and dance duo, Bert Williams and George Walker are often cited as the first African-American superstars.)

Williams And Walker are starring in their musical show Sons Of Ham at The California Theatre, San Francisco, California, USA. (A popular song and dance duo, Bert Williams and George Walker are often cited as the first African-American superstars.)

Williams And Walker are starring in their musical show Sons Of Ham at The California Theatre, San Francisco, California, USA. (A popular song and dance duo, Bert Williams and George Walker are often cited as the first African-American superstars.)

"The inimitable coloured comedians" Williams And Walker present their musical comedy show Sons Of Ham for the last of three nights at The Marquam Grand Theatre, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Blackface comedian and singer Billy Golden records Turkey In De Straw, Roll On The Ground, Crap Shooting and Yaller Gal for Victor Records in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

The St. Louis Star reports that The Glen Echo Club of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, has opened its golfing season with a dance at which, "A negro quintet furnished the music."

Peter F. Dailey And Company, Stuart Barnes, The Two Little Pucks, Midgley And Carlisle, Lotta Gladstone, Dooley And Fowley (blackface comedians) and Little Elsie play at The Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, California, USA.

The Atlanta (Georgia) Constitution newspaper runs a feature headlined Down In The Dancehalls Of Decatur Street, which declares that, "It is at night, when the work of the day is done and cares and troubles are thrust away, that the darkey finds his true enjoyment, and nothing gives him more pleasure than a dance. Next to the dance comes the pool table with the city negro. It is said that those who have conducted dance halls and run pool halls in the city for the negroes have laid aside considerable fortunes".

Cornettist Walter B. Rogers and Sousa's Band record Yankee Doodle, Old Black Joe and Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder for RCA Victor Records in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Karl Emil Heinrich Schwedler is born in Duisberg, Germany, Europe. He will attain a certain level of infamy during World War II as Charlie Schwedler, singer and leader of the Nazi propaganda jazz band Charlie And His Orchestra. The band's bizarre repertoire will include such songs as Let's Go Bombing and Submarines, along with Nazi-oriented parodies of popular American jazz hits of the day.

George Lea, a pioneer in the variety theater business and proprietor of Lea's Minstrels, dies at Port Jervis, New York State, USA.

Richards And Pringle's Famous Georgia Minstrels are playing at Sweeney And Coombs Opera House, Houston, Texas, USA.

An "Elaborate Scenic Production of the Romantic Drama" Coon Hollow is presented at The Central Theatre, San Francisco, California, USA. The show is billed as featuring, "Exciting scenes, cake-walks, Plantation Scenes, Southern Melodies, Buck And Wing Dancing etc".

Smart And Williams' Octoroons are appearing at The Empire Theatre, Washington DC, USA. On this night there is also a Grand Prize Cake Walk and a "Wedding On The Stage".

The Republic Minstrels are appearing at The Republic Theatre, San Francisco, California, USA.

Singer and actress Blanche Ring, billed as "Darling of the Gallery Gods" is headlining at the Crystal Gardens Theatre, New York City, USA, along with Wayburn's Minstrel Misses.

Lew Dockstader's Minstrels are playing at The Victoria Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA.

Lew Dockstader's Minstrels are playing at The Victoria Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA.

Florence Greenberg is born in New Jersey, USA. She will achieve success as a record label owner, music executive and record producer. Greenberg will found and own Tiara Records, Scepter Records, Hob Records and Wand Records. She will become best known for her work with several popular singers in the 60s including Dionne Warwick, The Shirelles, Tammi Terrell, Chuck Jackson, B.J. Thomas and others. She will also become active in the Civil Rights movement.

Flageolet player Thaddeus Peck records Old Black Joe for Victor Records in Camden, New Jersey, USA.

The short musical film Black And Tan is released in the USA. It is the first film to feature Duke Ellington and His Orchestra performing as a jazz band, and is thought to express the emergence of African-American artists in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance.

Paul Robeson gives a concert at Cornell University, New York State, USA.

Pima Native American Ira Hayes is one of the American soldiers who help raise the US flag at the battle of Iwo Jima, Japan, Asia. His tragic story - he died of alcoholism - will serve as the basis for the Johnny Cash hit The Ballad Of Ira Hayes, written by Peter La Farge.

In response to a request by singer Paul Robeson

The Emergency Civil Liberties Committee sends out a letter to all attendees of the recent dinner at which Bob Dylan was, controversially, given The Tom Paine Award by for his work to advance civil rights. The letter defends the Committee's decision to confer the award on Dylan.

In line with a Musicians Union ruling not to comply with South Africa's apartheid regime, Liverpool band The Swinging Blue Jeans refuse to visit the country. Other groups supporting the ban include The Rolling Stones, The Four Pennies, Freddie and the Dreamers and Dave Berry. Cliff Richard, however is a member of Equity, the actor's union, although The Shadows belong to the MU. "We can't speak for Cliff," says MU secretary Harry Francis, "but as far as we are concerned, The Shadows won't be going."

Six hundred civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama, USA, are attacked by state and local police with billy clubs and tear gas. Seventeen marchers are hospitalized and this incident will live on in infamy as Bloody Sunday. It will also provide the inspiration for the line "Take a look around, to Selma, Alabama" in the apocalyptic No1 hit single Eve Of Destruction by Barry McGuire.

Martin Luther King sends a telegram to Dr. Clinton Warner advising him of an upcoming concert in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, by Sammy Davis Jr, who he describes as "one of the world's greatest entertainers".

Pharrell Williams releases a new album, Girl, in the UK. It attracts criticism because the singer is seen surrounded by three white women dressed in white bathrobes. Many of those critical of the image felt that it failed to adequately represent black women.

Ice Cube is among the guests attending the 47th NAACP Image Awards at The Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California, USA.

During the American Music Awards in the Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, USA, Green Day insert a chant "No Trump, No KKK, No fascist USA" into their song Bang Bang, as a protest against US President-elect Donald Trump. Also featured in the AMA show are Justin Bieber, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Twenty One Pilots and Shawn Mendes. Bieber and rapper Drake pick up four awards, Rihanna earns three and Ariana Grande is named Artist of the Year. Former Police frontman Sting is given the American Music Award for Merit.

It is reported that Southern country-rock group Confederate Railroad has lost a second gig - Aug 1 at Ulster County Fair in New York's Hudson Valley - because of objections over the use of the Confederate flag in its logo. Ulster County executive Pat Ryan states, "The Ulster County Fair must be an event that everyone can enjoy while representing the values of all members of our community. Any showcasing of a symbol of division and racism runs counter to that principle and will be vigorously opposed by my administration." Earlier this month, Illinois canceled a state fair appearance by the band.