I thought ''The Gift of Laughter'' was an interesting expository piece. It definitely had a hopeful tone, obviously, meant to inspire African Americans working in the arts. Also, I think it was probably meant to inspire a younger audience, relating back to the importance of the ‘next generation’ in the Harlem Renaissance movement.
However, while trying to convey a brief history of African American actors, it is also clear that Fauset wants to express the deep sadness Bert Williams felt at not really being taken as a serious, or ‘legitimate’ actor. Although Williams was from Jamaica and actually had to study in order to portray the speech and characteristics of black Americans, he was forced to pursue acting only comedic, because that was really only as far as a black actor could go. In this way, it seems he really did understand the plight of African Americans, as they struggled for acceptance and advancements in industries that often refused to acknowledge them for anything more than menial positions.
Similarly, the narrator in Johnson’s Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, is warned by ‘the millionaire’ that he will never be able to reach his potential (or be accepted) as a black composer in the south. Although he never actually attempts this after witnessing a lynching, we can assume, from writings such as The Gift of Laughter that ‘the millionaire’ was in fact right, and that if he were to play in the south, at best, he would have been limited only to black clubs or organizations.
Still, Fauset covey’s hope that the struggles of actors such as Bert Williams has led to some exceptional musicals that have even made it Broadway, proving that coming from such modest means as the minstrels after the Civil War, African American arts have gotten much closer to serious or dramatic acting. Additionally, if nothing else, “The Gift of Laughter” is something that sustains African Americans, keeping them hopeful for the future, as well as literally providing them a way to advancements in the arts.
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I agree that Fauset's writing has some degree of hopefullness. While African American actors were not always accepted or even allowed to perform in the past it certainly didn't apply to her examples of whites dressing up for minstrel shows. Maybe I misunderstood but I thought she was saying that instead of African Americans acting whites dressed as African Americans and performed instead. I was confused as to why African Americans would even consider acting in minstrel shows which degraded their race.
I think Fauset is clearly much more hopeful about African Americans succeeding and becoming noticed for their talents and contributions to society. I understand that the minstrel show was Bert Williams, as well as many other actors, entry into acting but I don't really understand why they would contribute to humiliating the very race that they are trying to uplift. To me it is a very distasteful and tacky way of trying to become noticed. What is the old verbiage; don't throw rocks at glass houses?
It is terrible that Bert Williams could only go so far with his education. It is bad that they felt bad after his performances yet he kept doing them. Was their pain for progress? Did Bert see himself as doing a favor for his race by stepping into a white theater? Did he open the doors for the harlem rennassiance? I think and hope so. Sometimes it takes someone to take a hit for the team although it is unfortunate. I dont want to sound cold here... it was terrible that blacks had to go through this.. but is just how things were, blacks had to really work hard and earn their place in society, pushing for the next generation to have more rights and be considered more equal...
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