GUEST - lots of references to Molly in this thread, most (but not all) of them making the same point.

But even if Molly blacking-up does predate the minstrel tradition, I don't think that gives contemporary Morris sides a good enough reason to black up. The problem is (if I can repeat myself), the minstrel tradition is the only context in which most people in this country have seen anybody blacked up for entertainment purposes. So whether you put a blacked-up white man in a tatter coat, a suit and tie or a spacesuit, those minstrel associations will still be there. The only people for whom this won't be the case are people who have seen more blacked-up Border Morris than they have blacked-up minstrels - and I venture to suggest that there aren't very many of those, outside the ranks of the BM dancers themselves.

I just don't see a problem with not using black.

Other colours do not disguise white/pink people.

Oh really? Disguise in blue

and dese guise are in white.