In 1967 legendary comedian Groucho Marx (1890-1977) appeared on conservative pundit William F Buckley’s TV show “Firing Line”. Buckley brought up the subject of minstrel shows, a form of entertainment developed in the early 19th century that consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music performances that depicted people of African descent. The shows were performed by mostly white people in make-up or blackface for the purpose of playing the role of black people, often portraying them as lazy and dim-witted.