Minstrels

This character has its roots in the minstrel shows that gained popularity in the United States at the turn of the century. These shows were likely introduced to Trinidad by travelling troupes or by Trinidadians returning from the U.S. In America, minstrels were typically white performers who donned blackface and portrayed exaggerated stereotypes. However, in Trinidad, the masquerader—usually a black man—adopted the same stereotypes, including blackface, with exaggerated white lips painted around the mouth, red spots on the cheeks, and the “Uncle Sam” costume: a scissor-tailed coat, tight striped trousers, white gloves, and a hat. This created a complex image of a black man imitating a white man who was, in turn, imitating a black man.

Minstrel groups in Trinidad typically consisted of four members. One or two would play the guitars, while another would play the "bones," a clicking instrument derived from the original U.S. minstrel shows. Each year, the band would create a few new songs and learn some popular tunes of the time. The concept of Minstrels fits well within the carnival spirit. In Trinidad, the term “Yankee” refers to any American. However, in the U.S., it specifically describes white New Englanders of Anglo-Saxon descent, whose families were present during the American Revolution.