One point I'd like to make is that the ignorance of the general public towards the origins of blacking up in Border morris is actually downplaying the racists connotations. I have seem many non-folkies (including people from ethnic minorities and those I would generally consider to be very "PC")defending the "disguise" or even the "pagan" explanations!

If it was more widely known that traditional practitioners in the early 20thc referred to it as "going n***ering", or that there is strong evidence to suggest a direct link with minstrel shows you can bet there would be a hell of a lot more condemnation. So please no feeling you're hard done by because of the ignorance of the general public.

To be honest I think this is partly generational and the issue will resolve itself naturally in the next few years. As current sides are replaced by a younger generation of dancers I cannot imagine there will be many wanting to continue to black-up (unless it's done as part of a costume in a way that cannot possibly be interpreted as racist).