Minstrelsy refers to a form of entertainment that originated in the early 19th century in the United States. It typically featured white performers in blackface who imitated and caricatured African American culture through music, dance, and comedy. This genre often included a variety of acts, such as singing, storytelling, and instrumental performances, and was popular in theaters and on the vaudeville circuit. The minstrelsy tradition played a significant role in shaping American popular culture, influencing later forms of entertainment like vaudeville and musical theater. However, it is now widely criticized for its racist stereotypes and perpetuation of harmful narratives about African Americans, leading to its decline in popularity by the late 19th century.