For years at Mystic Seaport, there's been a major "diversity" push.

We've had Odetta, the Buckingham track-lining gang, the Menhaden
Shanteymen, a couple of groups from the Georgia sea-isles, the
Baroullie Whalers (sp?), etc. Some of these acts were more about
'diversity' than maritime. All had a good time and were well-received,
except for the one who sucked, and I'm not going to name names.

Did the African-American folks from around the area show up in
any numbers?

Nope.

Even in the year of Amistad? Ferchrissakes they build the bleedin'
SHIP!

Nope.

In the year of "Black Hands, Blue Seas?"

Nope.

Was that our problem?

Nope.

My conclusion?

There are enough risks and costs associated with putting on a
festival without white folks trying to make folks of color go where
they don't choose to go on their own. Hell, that's what started all
the trouble in the first place, now isn't it?

It's just not worth the head-space.

You could book "Sweet Honey in the Rock" and "Ladysmith Black
Mambazo" and Clifton Chenier and Queen Ida and Josh White Jr
and a half dozen other African and African-American acts and
put 'em on together at Philly Folk and you'd STILL have an overwhelmingly white audience because the GENRE just hasn't penetrated into the African-American community effectively.

Then again, if you booked those acts, the standard, white,
folkies would be out there clapping and whooping and hollering
and buying CDs just like they always do.

Then again, the 'folk revival' started with a bunch of WASPs
and Jews in New York singing spirituals at coffee houses, so
whaddya expect?

Then again, when the odd person of color does show up at such
an event, nobody is gonna look at him or her funny, or exclude
them from a song-circle or not want to camp next to them or make
them anything less than just plain old welcome.

Maybe that's the point.

Door's open. Has been for decades.