You have a beautiful voice!

Thank you for highlighting Al Jolson’s contributions to show business in your theater chronology. Conversations about early 20th-century entertainers can be quite challenging, especially given the cultural practices of that time. This difficulty touches on a question you thoughtfully posed in your talk: “Is it better to discuss the use of Blackface or to try to erase it from history?” To truly understand the complexities of the human experience, we must engage in discussions about aspects of popular culture that we now recognize as deeply problematic. Unfortunately, Blackface continued to appear in films during the 1930s and 1940s, with beloved performers like Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Dick Powell, Bing Crosby, and Shirley Temple participating in this practice. Many renowned composers and lyricists of the era, including Gus Kahn, George Gershwin, Harry Warren, Irving Berlin, and Jerome Kern, contributed their talents to the music that Al Jolson performed. Kern wrote the first song that Jolson showcased at New York’s Winter Garden Theatre in 1911. This raises the question: Are these individuals also guilty? The producers, directors, studio heads, and writers of that time also benefited from the films and Broadway shows featuring Blackface. Assessing whether all of these individuals bear guilt for racism due to their complicity in such practices can be difficult. However, it is crucial that we take the time to understand how and why this occurred. Acknowledging Jolson in today’s context requires both sensitivity and courage. Questioning practices that we all condemn is no small task; it necessitates thorough examination and understanding. While we should celebrate that Blackface is no longer a part of our culture, exploring why it was so prevalent in the early 20th century is crucial. It deserves our attention and comprehension. Jolson was a complex individual who grew up in a different world, faced with his own discrimination while striving for success in an unfamiliar environment. Providing more context about his situation could help us better understand why these practices occurred.

Thank you for considering the Entertainer more than anybody known as The Greatest, but you have specific aspects basically of the mark, such as Al Jolson's work is virtually impossible to find. All his recordings. films, and a majority of his radio shows are preserved, and can be observed or purchased by one means or the other On I tunes, You Tube. CD, DVD Vinyl, Mp3 or some downloading or streaming system. one way or the other. Articles, Photos, etc are also there in abundance on the Internet and elsewhere. Al Jolson also did not do blackface his entire career, he did from 1904 till about 1930. For the next 20 years he only did it, if required in an historical aspect in films, but not always. He although certainly having rough edges was not the human monster you describe here. Strange too that you were not able to show any vision of him, blackface or otherwise. because You Tube took it down, because there is heaps of it everywhere, all over the internet, particularly on You Tube. I can link you to Societies Facebook sites etc that can link you with and supply you with much more. THANKS ANY WAY FOR AT LEAST FACING CONTEMPORARY PEER INTIMIDATING AND AT LEAST DOING SOMETHING ON JOLIE!

Great video!!

Omg 😍😍😍

STUNNING

my heart

SO good

INCREDIBLE