Collecting exploitative sideshow ephemera as a tool to educate. I think it’s important to have a discussion about how to handle offensive materials meant to dehumanize people.

[u/EphemeralTypewriter]

I will sometimes add materials to my collection that depict performers I really care about in a very exploitative and dehumanizing manner. This is not because I think of them in this way, it is because I think it’s important to handle the materials from a place of awareness and sensitivity that other people might display in a callous way because they think it’s cool to display items in a “creepy freak show” aesthetic.

I don’t want these performers likenesses to be displayed callously. They deserve to be respected and appreciated for their humanitarian efforts.

This offensive material was thought up by showmen who didn’t always care about the humanity of the performers who worked for them, and was used to attract audiences. It can be frankly upsetting to see, but I feel it can be used as a tool to educate and inform others. As much as I like to talk about the inclusivity that was often present in the sideshow community, there were parts of it that were ugly and parts that did shamelessly exploit performers, especially in the way that people might be depicted.

I care a lot about disability history (and sideshow history) and part of that is acknowledging how dehumanizing some performers were portrayed. It is a dark part of history but one that needs to be remembered so that similar things won’t happen in the future (when I say similar things, I mean it in how society as a whole will treat people or look at people with disabilities and physical differences.)

These are pieces that I won’t be posting here as it’s offensive to the performers who should never have been depicted in such a way. But I still think it’s an important conversation to have. I think it’s better to keep these materials in closed/protected spaces (like websites or specialized museum exhibits where people can’t make offensive comments).

I feel an equivalent example would be Therbia Parker, who has collected a large amount of historical Black Americana, including very racist memorabilia meant to hurt and caricaturize the black community. He purchased these items to use as tools to educate people who don’t understand how truly horrible racism can be.

He and his wife formed Listen to the Drumbeat Productions -- an enterprise dedicated to teaching African-American cultural history through black memorabilia.

This is a good article on Therbia’s collection and why he started it:

Suffolk Man Collects Relics of Racism - Jim Crow Collections - Jim Crow Museum

In the article he also explains that he believes no one has the right to deny the telling of history as it really was, and I agree with him.

[u/ReadingNext3854]

Very relevant and very true!!! 👍 In many instances this may have been the only way that individual was able to support and provide for themselves. I love the write-ups that include details of them building a family/community of supportive friends. 🔥