[Ads-l] Antedating of "Cakewalk" (Dance)

[Shapiro, Fred]

cakewalk (OED, 1.c., 1884)

1876 Freeport (Ill.) Bulletin 3 Feb. 4/6 (Newspapers.com)

The darkeys of Brooklyn have been giving a hint to the managers of church fairs and other similar affairs, by getting up what they call a "Cake-walk," for some benevolent purpose ... This consisted of the introduction into a dancing party of competitive pedestrianism.

Fred Shapiro

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