what is the history of morris dancing?

hi everyone! i’ve had a discussion with my partner about morris dancing and i’d like to learn a bit about it.

tonight my partner (from england) was telling me (from america) about morris dancing and how generally black paint is put on the dancers faces.

history in america is taught pretty strictly.. and this isn’t something i’ve heard about. first impressions, hearing black paint on white peoples faces sounds like black face. which i said. he essentially said no not at all, this became a tradition before black people even came to england.

i’m absolutely open to learning and being wrong. i wasn’t even trying to say i’m definitely right and he’s definitely wrong, just an observation on what he told me. so can anyone please educate me a little more on this subject? he said that i wouldn’t be able to have the conversation because i don’t know the history and i’d just like to know the history