Thanks Howard, I know none of us an historical expert and many cherry pick history to strengthen the position they hold. Almost none of us can be bothered to read everything that each other have said many times but ok,

1. English 'Folk Arts' have some history of 'Blacking up' that goes back along way - although not in Morris as far as I know.

2. Another quote from another thread, from Dave Hunt:

'A version of the 'A' part of the tune is also used for the tune known as 'Clee Hill' as collected from Dennis Crowther who is from that area, which is not far from Ludlow in South Shropshire. The tune was used by the morris/molly dancers from Clee Hill area and in 'pre-PC' days was known as 'The niggerin' tune' as the dancers went out with blacked-up faces and called it 'Goin' out a-niggerin' The use of the term molly instead of morris,was common in Shropshire and I have met people who remembers 'Going out molly-dancing' in East Shropshire in the 1930s-40s '

3. Another via Ruth Archer:

The piece goes on to discuss the incorporation of blacking up into "traditional" events: "There would seem to be little doubt that the black faces of the traditional morris dance groups of the Welsh Border counties were at least influenced by minstrelsy. The occasional use of banjoes, bones and tambourines in these morris dances cannot be mere coincidence."

Looks to me like Minstrelsy is just a tad more influential than early English blacking up.

4. "Bater also discusses Darkie Day, and her conclusions are similar to my own assumption that this is very much a community affair and that any interference by outsiders is unwelcome and likely to be counterproductive."

- Well they are making a public performance and they either don't know or don't care that some of us find it offensive.

Yes I know that in the world of Trump, Boris, Ebola, appalling dictatorships and wars of indescribable death Darkie Days doesn't even get on any scale. But in it's own sweet little way it is currently offensive isn't it?

Best wishes