"Ham and Sam" Wind Up Toy

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Description:

1921 "Ham and Sam: The Minstrel Team" tin wind up toy. One black man sits at the piano while another black man stands on the side playing a banjo. The piano sheet music reads “Dixie Blues.” The piano and accompanying seat depict stereotypical black caricatures dancing and playing instruments. The words “Ham and Sam: ‘The Minstrel Team’" are displayed across the front of the piano. While the wind up function no longer works, the toy would have originally produced music while the men danced and played their instruments.

Product Origin:

The U.S.A.

Background:

To learn more about these caricatures read "The Coon Caricature"

To learn more about minstrel shows read “Blackface: The Birth of An American Stereotype”

Statement: We understand these objects may inflict offense through their embodiment of racist ideology by depicting stereotypical and discriminatory imagery and language. However, we hope to educate our community and encourage personal reflection through interacting and understanding the historical context of these objects, rather than ignoring them.