When today’s audiences think of blackface, they might recall its use by figures from the 1930s and ’40s, such as Judy Garland, Orson Welles, and Bing Crosby. In 1968, Grace Slick also decided to perform in blackface on national TV.
While most post-1940s blackface portrayals have adopted a satirical tone, like Dan Aykroyd’s role in ‘Trading Places‘ or Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Tropic Thunder,‘ others have continued without satire, purely for comedic value. For instance, Jimmy Fallon’s impersonation of Chris Rock on SNL and Billy Crystal’s portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. at the 2012 Oscars are examples of this.
Yet, Slick’s blackface performance stands out due to her intent and the political climate of the time.
Preparing to sing ‘Crown of Creation’ on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, she appeared on stage in blackface, ending her appearance with a Black Power salute. This move, believed by some to be in solidarity with activist Angela Davis or the broader Black Power movement, startled many. A month later, she graced the cover of Teenset magazine with the same makeup.
In defense of her actions, Slick cited several reasons in an article titled ‘Grace Slick is an Attention-Getting Device’:
“1. If you listen to the words of ‘Crown of Creation,’ think about a spade singing it. It makes a lot of sense.
2. Women wear makeup all the time, so why not black? Next time maybe I’ll wear green. Makeup is pretty silly anyway…
3. I did it because it was a trip; it’s weird to have blue eyes and a black face.
4. The whole thing started when I was watching TV, and someone said that blacks look better on television in closeups, so I wandered around the house wearing blackface and flashing on myself in the mirror. Perhaps a bored socialite can do the same thing and go shopping in blackface and maybe pick up some bargains.
5. There weren’t any blacks on the show, and the quota needed a little readjustment.
6. I knew nearly everybody would object to it.”
One particular statement stands out in Slick’s words, where she remarked on the song ‘Crown of Creation’ and suggested listeners imagine it sung by a Black individual. However, she used the term ‘spade,’ a term now recognized as a racial slur.
Looking at her background, Slick was more than just a singer. She was a part of Jefferson Airplane, a band that was embedded in the ’60s counterculture in San Francisco. Over time, their music became a political statement — especially their 1969 album, ‘Volunteers,’ which had left-wing and anti-war sentiments.
Today, in an era of sensitivity and rapid information sharing, such a performance would likely have faced immediate backlash. The internet ensures that artists remain accountable for their actions, as past performances can easily resurface and be viewed under modern lenses of cultural understanding.
In this light, Slick’s intent to express solidarity and highlight inequality would probably face the uncomfortable history and racial undertones of blackface today.
Below, you can watch Slick perform ‘Crown of Creation’ in blackface.
