Cakewalks were a type of dance created by Negro slaves on the plantations during the 19th Century. Such dances became quite popular and evolved quickly. Percieved by the African-American slaves, these dances portrayed the imitation of their white master's strut. After the dance competition is over with, the whites would decide who won, and the winners would recieve a slice of cake or whole cake. Usually the men who recieve the cake and the women recieved molasses pulled candy. Hencing the prize where cakewalk got its name.

It is very unlikely that the white folks were ever aware of the roots of where cakewalks came from. In the 19th century, whites would enter their Negro slaves to compete for their entertainment. Needless to say, without their knowledge, they were ammused and laughed at the elequoent and graceful imitations of themselves.

The "walkers" as they were typically called, would walk in a straight line balancing buckets filled with water on their heads. Gradually the moves become more exaggerated as Negro slaves began to imitate the parody of the high society whites. Moves evolved into high kicks which were over-accentuated, low bowing, imaginary hat doffing, waving canes, and strutting or prancing around the room. All these cartoonish gestures where mixed together with traditional African steps which were later adopted by the white society. After the civil war ended, cakewalks become one of the most popular events around. Due to the great interests by the whites, cakewalks became the first American dance to cross over from a black society to a white society as well as from the stages to ballrooms.