Some Context for the CAKEWALK

This footage is fairly recent (early 1900s) as opposed to the story recalled by a dancer from the 1840s:

"Us slaves watched the white folks' parties," she added, "where the guests danced a minuet and then paraded in a grand march, with the ladies and gentlemen going different ways and then meeting again, arm in arm, and marching down the center together. Then we'd do it, too, but we used to mock 'em, every step. Sometimes the white folks noticed it, but they seemed to like it; I guess they thought we couldn't dance any better." After a while she was taken from one plantation to another and entered in dancing contests with other slaves, while her owner wagered on the outcome with other owners. "I won a lot of times. Missy gave me a dress and my partner a suit." (Marshall and Jean Stearns, Jazz Dance, recounting a story that Leigh Whipper told about his old nurse).