"Are the stout defenders of the BCND prepared to explore possible links between BCND and Blackface Minstrelsy?"
Wouldn't have thought there was a great deal of doubt about this Les, the dates seem to indicate that it was originally, but the 1920s revival was influenced by the early collector.
I don't think it helps to ignore the fact that there is a 'racist' problem attached to the tradition, just as there was with the 'blackfaced' artists like "The Chocolate-Coloured Coon" et al - it gives offence to some - some people are sensitive to how they are depicted nowadays, not without cause.
This is in no way claiming that the 'Nutters' are doing anything other than what they claim to be doing.
These public displays need to be aware of these sensitivities, it isn't too long ago that the good people of Lewes were burning a caravan full of 'Pikeys' at their annual bonfire festival.
The one time I visited Bacup I thoroughly enjoyed it - the dancing, the music and the festival, and found no particular harm in it, though I did find it rather 'quaint' - but that's me.
It's a bit facile to compare Bacup with what happened in Australia - if the native Australians did mean any offence, Queenie had the Dook to put them in their place, as he's shown more than adequately in the past - and anyway, it is their country anyway, so they are fully entitled to dress up in millenia-old traditional make-up to entertain the visitors, should they wish to.
Jim Carroll