Staging a minstrel show today certainly would not be tolerated, but back in the 1940s it was not unusual.

Such shows are a part of the nation’s history, even though the mere thought is foreign and distasteful today.

This photo was provided by the Alderfers of Harleysville, and shows a group of Harleysville Lions members when they put on a minstrel show sometime between 1946 and 1949, the Alderfers said.

Not everyone is identified in this photo, but most of the people are.

So here is the group, as submitted by the Alderfers:

Front row, the first two people were “professionals” performing at the show, the third person was unknown, Harold Gamble, another professional performer, Wilmer Wambold, Harold Ritter, Milton Alderfer and two professionals.

Second row, Walt Bucher, Jim Swartley, Lester Fretz, Homer Clemens, Rein Ritter, Roland Scholl, Clarence Tyson, Homer Kulp, Roland Kulp, Ernest Delp and Charles Heimbach.

Third row, Howard Wambold, George Dale, Paul Lederach, Jeryl Royer, Victor Clemens, Bob Shisler, Ralph Wambold, unknown, Chester Emlet and Alvin Clemens.

This type of photo certainly shows how our awareness has changed in the past 60 years.

We offer this simply as a part of the history that occurred here, and it also stands as part of the lessons we as a nation have learned.