I agree that many will see Darkie Day as offensive, and I am uncomfortable with it myself. Unlike morris, it has retained too many of the other trappings of minstrelsy. However I suspect that the Padstonians don't much care to be lectured by outsiders (although between themselves there may be a more diverse range of views).

The only issue with modern morris is the colour of the facepaint, and if anything other than black is used no one seems to have a problem with it. If there were anything which could be construed as offensive then changing the colour, or not painting the faces at all, would not change this. I doubt that using a different colour, or no paint at all, would make a minstrel show acceptable today. However I feel that black has a visual impact which other colours somehow lack. Perhaps some will see that as evidence of unconscious racism on my part - I hope it is not that.

I think the real question here is how far we should go to avoid giving offence. Some take the view that we should avoid anything which might be taken offence at, even mistakenly, should be avoided. I suspect Les leans towards this view. Others, myself included, argue there is no right not to be offended, especially where no offence is intended

I agree we should not set out gratuitously or thoughtlessly to offend, but I don't believe any morris sides do this. However I also feel we should be robust in standing up for our own traditions,.I also accept that in view of the history of racism in this country we should perhaps allow black people greater latitude to take offence than in other situations. Whilst some obviously do, there is also evidence that others immediately recognise that this is something quite different.

Ultimately it is up to everyone, end every side, to take their own view, and that is what happens in practice.