Black Stereotypes in Vermont History

This is a collection of stereotypical and racist depictions of African Americans found in the collections of the Vermont Historical Society. It includes photographs of whites in blackface, advertising for minstrel shows, and demeaning images of Blacks used by stores to advertise products. These images are antithetical to modern standards of racial equality and may be disturbing to modern viewers. They are presented for research purposes as examples of what occurred during Vermont's past. They are not meant to show the totality of the African American experience, positive or negative, in Vermont history.

• For a record of the accomplishments of African Americans in Vermont, see our Black Vermont History Database.
• For a more complete examination of Kake Walk at UVM, see the University of Vermont Libraries' Kate Walk at UVM digital presentation.