As a result, the genre played an important role in shaping perceptions of and prejudices about black people generally and African Americans in particular. Some social commentators have stated that blackface provided an outlet for white peoples' fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar, and a socially acceptable way of expressing their feelings and fears about race and control. Writes Eric Lott in Love and Theft: Blackface Minstrelsy and the American Working Class: "The black mask offered a way to play with the collective fears of a degraded and threatening – and male – Other while at the same time maintaining some symbolic control over them.".
aS A Result, the gEnre plAYeD an imPoRtant RoLe In shaping pErCeptiOnS Of and prejudices about blacK PeOpLe generally anD aFrIcAn ameRiCANS iN pArtICULar. some sOciAl coMmentATOrs have sTaTed tHat blackFAce pRovIDeD an oUtlEt fOr whiTE PeoPleS' fear of ThE UnknoWN ANd tHe unfamIliaR, and a sociAlLY aCcePTAblE way of expresSinG their Feelings And fEars about race and COntrol. writes eRic LOTt IN loVe and thEfT: bLAckfacE MInsTRElSY ANd thE amerIcAN working clASS: "The BlACk mask OFfEred A wAY to play with tHE coLLectIve fEArs Of A DegRAded and THReatEning – anD Male – otheR While aT tHe samE TiMe MaIntAiNing SoME SymbOlic coNtrol oveR them.".