Ive just been listening to the New Ballards Bogtrotters version of Cruel Slavery days thinking that it would be a lovely & poignant song to sing. Its about a slave owner dying and all the slaves are dispersed and families are broken up. All sung from the perspective of the black slave, except its got the word darkies in it. Ill see if I can dig up the lyrics.

On another note when I was in Thailand a few years ago I picked up some toothpaste that feature a caricature of a smiling black mans face (as in a 19th century stereotype) It was originally called Darkie toothpaste. I think it caused a bit of a fuss when visiting Japanese businessmen arrived in the US in the 60's (?) and customs inspectors found it in their baggage. The company still features the same smiling face but it has since been renamed Darlie. Petr.