"I shall answer your questions, and perhaps you'll extend me the same courtesy & look at groups like Hunters Moon & the Witchmen who have gone for a gothic look and explain to me how the black-face in context of that outfit can be considered a parody of black people."
OK I did and I also looked up some images of minstrels. Now as with all of this debate we are in our respective corners but I think if you stick some feathers in the hat of the guy on the right the image of the minstrel is not that far away from that of the morris side.