Jack Campin: "Blacked-up dance teams look more like mineworkers coming off shift than anything else. It's crazy to try and pick a fight with people who perform in that tradition - more likely to lose allies for the anti-fascist movement and create new friends for the BNP."

I must agree with Jack here, too much damage done by whites 'in the name of' race relations has already occurred in the UK. It generates antipathy towards the cultures it purports to protect and is too often counterproductive. I believe in depth dialogues with British black people, would have to occur before anyone started intensive alterations of long existant native traditions 'on their behalf'.

As for the N word, I've only ever heard OF it being used second hand, though the context was very ugly sounding - and there is a clear danger in such practices gaining popularity amongst BNP 'folkies'. But I do think it aught to be actively discouraged in any folk gathering, due to the potential wrongful abuse of 'historical accuracy' and 'tradition'.

I liked the post by SPB-Cooperator however: "Suggestion to organisers: put Folk against Facism posters up at their venues, and refer to FaF in your adverts." As any such declaration, must deter fascists from indulging in 'traditional' practices for racist reasons.

Nice post from Ruth A there too. Sorry to hear about the trashy intimidation tactics - much respect to you for being willing to undertake organising a public response to this this challenge to folk traditions and the the folk community.