Like Spot earlier I appear in a Pace Egg Play every Easter - Same one in fact! We have had the discussion on that topic before. I am quite happy to defend that tradition but I am very unsure about Afro wigs and minstrel songs. I think I said in the thread on Mumming (AKA Pace Egg) that there was a world of difference between the UK style of Mumming and the potentialy offensive mimicry of the Black and White minstrel. The Padstow 'tradition' has got me wondering if that is always true.

I would not dream in a million years of wearing an Afro wig or singing 'de Camptown races' while I was in black face. I have no idea whether the people doing such things are racist or not. I must however agree with Azizi on this one. I seriously question the sensitivity, and possibly inteligence, of anyone who does don full minstrel 'guise' thinking that they will cause no offense. What is more the afro wig and minstrel song has nothing whatsoever to do with the tradition that pre-dates these affectations. Why on earth have th egood people of Padstow allowed this sort of nonsense to infiltrate there otherwise excelent piece of local colour? (Pun almost intended but withdrawn on grounds of taste:-) )

If this tradition has become a tastless piece of mimicry then yes, by all means put a stop to that side of it. But please don't tar all traditions with the same brush. (Sorry - bad taste pun again...)

Cheers

DtG