A little devil in America

"[This book] is a . . . project that unravels all modes and methods of black performance, in this moment when black performers are coming to terms with their value, reception, and immense impact on America. [The author] examines how black performance happens in specific moments in time and space--mid-century Paris, the moon, or a cramped living room in Columbus, Ohio. At the outset of this project, [he] became fascinated with clips of black minstrel entertainers like William Henry Lane, better known as Master Juba. Knowing there was something more complicated . . . in the history and legacy of minstrelsy, [he] uncovered questions and tensions that help to reveal how black performance pervades all areas of American society"--Provided by publisher.