The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76375 Message #1353239
Posted By: Geoff the Duck
10-Dec-04 - 01:47 PM
Thread Name: Mummers and Racism
Subject: RE: BS: Mummers and Rascism
When mummers are accused of racism it in usuually by somebody talking bollocks.
Let's face it - the racists dress in white robes with pointy hoods if they wish to be in disguise.
The lie is given to the racism accusation by the (admittedly not numerous, but I have known more than on in my travels) members of mumming teams who are of non-white origins but still "black up", because that is the costume of a mummer. I suggest you ask those mummers for an opinion before making sweeping statements.
Every race and cultore somewhere alomng the line has a custom which involves disguising individuals, whether it be masks, carnival costumes and makeup, styles of theatre, or covering the skin with ashes from a dead fire.
For an example of a non-British culture have a look HERE photos top and bottom of page
Quack!!
GtD.