Perhaps I was misunderstood.

I posted this respost without any comment but I'm interested in reading any comment that supporters of blackening up have about it.


Subject: RE: Tune Req: Oh! Joe the boat's a going over
From: GUEST,Dave Sunshine - PM
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 08:34 PM

"...The tune was used by the morris/molly dancers from Clee Hill area and in 'pre-PC' days was known as 'The niggerin' tune' as the dancers went out with blacked-up faces and called it 'Goin' out a-niggerin'".

-snip-

And now I will post my comments in the form of questions:

Is this area near Padstow? Is this blackening up tradition separate from that of Padstow? Do these people still blacken up? Were these molly/morris performers singing minstrel songs? Do they still sing these types of songs Are these songs different than those that used to be sung or are still sung in Padstow?

Don't you find the terms 'The niggerin' tune' and 'Goin' out a-niggerin'" "offensive?

What kind of messages does this give to people in your country and people in the rest of the world about respect for other people? What kind of message does it give to folks who support this because it's tradition, and to children in those towns who see this support?

And will we still be having this discussion twenty years from now when those children and my grandchildren become adults?