In addition to cake walks, coon songs were also a harmful and hurtful aspect of ragtime music. Coon songs were a based on stereotypes of black people, such as big lips, wide noses and darker skin, that were manipulated and exaggerated so white people could further disrespect blacks. These songs were preformed by white men and women, who dressed up as black people, who sung and danced around mocking black traits and mannerisms.