However Northam's case plays out, it's important for every American to understand what blackface is and why it's so offensive. The origins of blackface date back to the minstrel shows of mid-19th century. One of the most popular blackface characters was "Jim Crow," developed by performer and playwright Thomas Dartmouth Rice. The characters were so pervasive that even some black performers put on blackface, historians say. "Because you do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface on Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween.

Source: CNN February 03, 2019 00:45 UTC