Just a view from an occasional Morris watcher. I have never really thought about the blacking up being racist - I just assumed it was a mining area tradition as I see it in the Durham area. As to disguise - I have some friends who dance Morris & remarked that I had never seen them dance. Last year at a festival singaround one came & sat with me 'blacked up'. It was then I realised why I had not seen them dance - or I should say, recognise them. So on casual viewing (watching the dancing and not examining faces) the disguise factor works.
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