Phil, obviously the reality is more complex than just reactionary bigots versus PC gone mad...

I'm genetically 33% punk / 33% hippy / 33% provincial west country council estate kid / 1% ???;
and as far as PC gone mad goes - 75% ideologially correct / 25% 1970s sit-com fan..

I actually don't care if they continue to black up if it means that much to them.
Just as long they do it with an informed awareness that it could upset some folks,
and if it does, not just dismiss, deny, rationalize the offence away:
or even worse shift the blame to those who might be offended,
and insult them as being unreasonably over-sensitve if they complain about it...