Blackface make-up banned at Borders festival

Organisers of the festival, held annually since 1897, say that, going forward, they will not tolerate fancy-dress parade participants using “make-up that adjusts ethnicity” and will discourage costumes that do so.

The festival’s organising committee has issued a statement announcing that ban from next June onwards – this year’s festival, like all others in the Borders, having been cancelled due to the current coronavirus lockdown – after retrospective complaints were shared on social media about participants blackening their faces at past events.

Its statement reads: “We, like you, are appalled and saddened at the senseless acts of inhumanity that we have witnessed on our television screens in recent days.

“Every day, there are countless people around the world who have become the targets of bigotry, discrimination and xenophobia.

“These abhorrent behaviours have no place in society and have no place in the beltane festival.

“The festival is open to all to enjoy, irrespective of race, creed or orientation.

“We have recently been asked to review cultural misappropriation of costumes and the use of make-up that adjusts ethnicity.

“We have also been asked to review the blackening of faces and skin that has been reported as part of the Friday fancy-dress competition and parade.

“We can confirm that the committee has not, and will never, condoned or tolerated anyone taking part in our fancy-dress competition and parade who has blackened their face.

“Each year, the traditional Friday night fancy-dress parade is followed the next morning by a procession of over 500 children in costume ranging from fairies, sailors and soldiers to mice, archers and representatives of foreign lands to start the town’s red letter day proceedings.

“The costumes and use of make-up to adjust ethnicity will be addressed. However, this cannot happen overnight,

“Meanwhile, guidance pertaining to the fancy-dress competition and parade, together with other entertainment on the Friday evening, will be strengthened with clear guidance on the use of make-up to ensure racist tones do not exist.”

Specialist legal advice on equality matters is also being sought in an effort to ensure no offence is caused at future festivals, it adds.

The statement also points out that the committe has not been sent any formal complaints but has been made aware of aspersions being cast via social media.

It said: “Not one complaint has been received in regards to racism after last year’s or the previous year’s festival.

“In addition, not one complaint was raised at the recent annual general meeting about racism.

“We were therefore disappointed that people felt the need to discuss this matter online rather than approach the committee in the first instance.

“We will, however, take this on board moving forward.

“As a community, it is in our best interest to work together and resolve disputes, rather than create division and disperse false information.

“The committee is willing to work with anyone for the good of the festival and ensure we continue to put on a great show for the generations to come.”

That vow from the festival’s organisers follows the removal of television shows featuring blackface make-up such as BBC1’s Little Britain and ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway from streaming services amid a surge in support for the Black Lives Matter human rights movement following the death of African-American George Floyd, 46, in May while being arrested by US police in Minneapolis in Minnesota.