Can we please stop using the term "blackface"? This has a specific meaning to describe a form of theatrical makeup used by non-Black performers to represent a black person, and as a shorthand for minstrelsy. I have never seen a morris dancer in blackface.

The fact is, we don't know the origins of blacking-up in English folk traditions. There is some sparse evidence that it pre-dates the minstrel craze. However minstrelsy was such a widespread and long-lasting phenomenon that it would be remarkable if it had not had some influence on morris and other customs. Nevertheless, Cotswold morris did not adopt blacking-up, although a few minstrel tunes came into the repertoire. A possible explanation is that minstrelsy was most easily tacked onto those customs, such as Border morris, which already had a tradition of blacking up, rather than minstrelsy being the cause of it.

What we seem to have is a long-established custom of blacking up for reasons of disguise, which for a period of time also adopted other elements from popular culture which today we regard as racist. However that ended 60 or 70 years ago, and certainly played no part in the modern revival which itself is now several decades old. I wonder why we are now putting such an emphasis on this particular aspect, when the real question is how we can maintain the tradition in today's society where some may perceive it as being racist (although even FRESh seems to agree it is not)

Personally, I don't think other colours or patterns have quite the dramatic impact of black, neither are they quite as effective as a disguise. I think it would be regrettable if blacking up were to be lost, although I recognise that in today's multicultural society, and especially one where people are quick to form opinions without bothering to understand the reasons, it is probably inevitable. What I find disappointing is that a prominent folk festival and even the EFDSS are not taking a more nuanced approach to explain and defend the tradition. By not doing so they are simply reinforcing the incorrect assumption that it is racist.