You wont be surprised that I am with Ruth.

I am interested in Bonecruncher Colyn's list of what we must do before we can comment on blacking up. I am with him/her on practically all of that list, I do some and campaigne, a bit on others. Most Folkies seem to lie over that side too.

As for denial, I am not clear about what I appear to be denighing. The history of most these practises is rather short on evidence.

"Having looked into blacking up for the EDS feature that Ruth Archer has kindly quoted from, there is undoubtedly an influence on English folk culture from minstrelsy. Bacup may be one, Padstow mummers may be another, the 20th century traditional Border morris which has been copied by revival sides might be another."

This quote from Derek Schofield, is this Derek the Editor of the English Folk Dance and Song Society?

I think Ruth has made an important point,

"would you be comfortable introducing a Black-British or British-Asian child to the many blacking-up traditions? What about those rooted in minstrelsy? The nigger songs? Come to think of it, is this something you'd like White British children to celebrate as part of their heritage?"

Many of us in folk have a, perhaps unwelcome, missionary zeal about sharing our living heritage. Some of us, moved by the Blues sort English Roots music because we felt singing Delta Blues was not for us, whilst old English songs was. We sing, we dance we perform ritual plays in public because ........... well fill in your own dots.

When I danced Northwest Morris in the streets of the North West I felt their was some link with working people who came to the region in the Industrial Revolution, as migrant workers, lived a hard life and found ways of singing and dancing to celebrate. I found that the multi ethnic collections of teenagers that I taught, were interested when they saw me in the streets. I chatted to them and they never used it against me on Monday morning. Chatting to them whilst blacked up would have been at least difficult.