I feel most indignant on their behalf that anyone could suggest there is racism among blacked-up sides. I have been closely involved in folk music for over 50 years; most of my friends come from the folk scene and I have met hundreds of people that I like and admire through my involvement in dance, song and mummers plays. The vast majority of the people that I have met are amongst the kindest and most considerate that I have met. Sadly, though, about 10 years ago there began a campaign by an extreme right wing British political party to infiltrate the folk song and dance scene and subvert our traditional music and song and claim our cultural heritage as a tool of their vile and warped processes. Some of the methods they used against those who opposed them were entirely scurrilous and downright cruel. I was one of their victims because I opposed them and had to endure identity theft on social media and the internet including hideous photoshopped pictures of my wife being posted. Fortunately, many on the folk scene got together in a movement (rather than an organisation) called Folk Against Fascism. It grew very quickly, arranged concerts, produced T-shirts, posters and other artefacts, all to warm and oppose any entryism by those with intolerant racist attitudes. By and large, FaF was very successful and the threat diminished as that political party descended into an internescine shambles. However, remnants of this attitude remain and we must be constantly on our guard.
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