Morris dancers accused of racism for traditional blackface

[Northern Monkey]

group of Morris Dancers were forced to abandon a performance after they were accused of being racist and threatened over their traditional black face paint, it has been claimed.

The Alvechurch group were heckled by a handful of onlookers during performances on two city centre streets near the Bullring in Birmingham on Saturday, witnesses said.

The dancers were one of more than a dozen groups who were there to celebrate Plough Monday, the traditional start of the agricultural year.

They arrived at 11am and had performed without incident in pubs, to groups of local and visiting football fans and to the majority of shoppers.

But a source close to the group said: "The atmosphere had been great with the vast majority of people, but I was absolutely amazed by the vitriolic abuse they started to receive.

"The issues began when they started dancing near to the Bull outside the Bullring and later near to Marks & Spencer. They were roundly abused and threatened with violence.

"One lady was particularly angry and a group of young men started to become very abusive and confrontational, accusing them of being racists, which of course they are not.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/08/morris-dancers-forced-abandon-performance-accused-racism-threatened/amp/?client=safari

[arista]

Did LT - not post this?

#As well

[Northern Monkey]

Did LT - not post this?

#As well

Can't see another one?

[arista]

Can't see another one?


Sorry NM
it was another one
they said on Wright Stuff Paper Review
Ch5HD 10:12AM
today



So Bleedin' fools
doing it AGAIN

that is a 2nd time

[Tom4784]

People who threaten violence are idiots but I can't blame the rational people for being angry, tradition or not it's going to be seen as Blackface. If they wanted to paint their faces they could modernise the tradition and make it more colourful which makes more sense for a celebratory performance.

[DemolitionRed]

Did LT - not post this?

#As well

You should be thankful that people don't talk down to you every time you open a new thread.

As for the Morris Dancers, I've heard of this sort of thing go on before towards Morris Dancers.

Every Easter Saturday, members perform dances for ten hours from one side of the town to the other in a tradition known as “Beating the Bounds”. The dance, which marks the return of spring, is believed to trace its roots to Moorish pirates who settled in Cornwall and became employed in local mining.

As more mines and quarries opened in Lancashire in the 18th and 19th centuries, a few Cornishmen are said to have headed to the area, taking with them mining expertise and the costume of red and white kilts, breeches, bonnets and blackened faces. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/10777858/Racist-No-our-black-face-dance-is-a-proud-tradition.html

So the blackened face is to do with piracy and mining and nothing to do with trying to look like a black person.

[Northern Monkey]

It's a British tradition from the 16th century and has no racial connotations.It's from when begging was illegal so people would paint their face black to disguise their identity.
I'd say that if we as a nation must accept the traditions of other cultures then our traditions should also be respected as the host nation.

[Northern Monkey]

You should be thankful that people don't talk down to you every time you open a new thread.

As for the Morris Dancers, I've heard of this sort of thing go on before towards Morris Dancers.

Every Easter Saturday, members perform dances for ten hours from one side of the town to the other in a tradition known as “Beating the Bounds”. The dance, which marks the return of spring, is believed to trace its roots to Moorish pirates who settled in Cornwall and became employed in local mining.

As more mines and quarries opened in Lancashire in the 18th and 19th centuries, a few Cornishmen are said to have headed to the area, taking with them mining expertise and the costume of red and white kilts, breeches, bonnets and blackened faces. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/10777858/Racist-No-our-black-face-dance-is-a-proud-tradition.html

So the blackened face is to do with piracy and mining and nothing to do with trying to look like a black person.Interesting.There may be multiple traditions for the painted face?Depending on the particular morris tradition.

[DemolitionRed]

On a recent visit to Mexico and taking part in the ‘day of the dead’ festival, we put white paint on my 4 year old nieces face to make her look like a zombie. Now because she’s black, that could be seen her trying to impersonate a white person. :hehe:

[Northern Monkey]

On a recent visit to Mexico and taking part in the ‘day of the dead’ festival, we put white paint on my 4 year old nieces face to make her look like a zombie. Now because she’s black, that could be seen her trying to impersonate a white person. :hehe:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=zulu+white+face+paint&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#imgrc=PAPxU6JVy1ilXM%3A

[DemolitionRed]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=zulu+white+face+paint&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#imgrc=PAPxU6JVy1ilXM%3A


:joker:

[Crimson Dynamo]

shocking snowflakes who think that because they are right then that excuses them for abuse and hooliganism

I hope they perform again soon

[Crimson Dynamo]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2017/01/08/Morris-dancers-3-large_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqSdnVs1xxx3yeSXN55W0GtC2rTw sK4baht9cUDr9QcPE.jpg

[arista]

"You should be thankful that people don't talk down to you every time you open a new thread. "

They are welcome to.

I posted again to Correct that
so please Keep UP

[arista]

shocking snowflakes who think that because they are right then that excuses them for abuse and hooliganism

I hope they perform again soon


They will not look good on
USA Red Eye Comedy Hour
tomorrow 3AM and 8AM our time
online only , though

[Withano]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2017/01/08/Morris-dancers-3-large_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqSdnVs1xxx3yeSXN55W0GtC2rTw sK4baht9cUDr9QcPE.jpg

I mean, they are only blackening their faces.. Why would their hair, beard and clothes be in immaculate condition when fresh out the chimney.. I didnt understand the backlash until now, go hard or go home. Also, clinging on to traditions is one of humans weirdest habits imo. Its fine to leave things in the past.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I mean, they are only blackening their faces.. Why would their hair, beard and clothes be in immaculate condition when fresh out the chimney.. I didnt understand the backlash until now, go hard or go home. Also, clinging on to traditions is one of humans weirdest habits imo. Its fine to leave things in the past.

I take it you enjoyed all your Christmas presents?

:idc:

[jennyjuniper]

It's a British tradition from the 16th century and has no racial connotations.It's from when begging was illegal so people would paint their face black to disguise their identity.
I'd say that if we as a nation must accept the traditions of other cultures then our traditions should also be respected as the host nation.

I agree with this.

[jennyjuniper]

shocking snowflakes who think that because they are right then that excuses them for abuse and hooliganism

I hope they perform again soon

My new year resolution: To offend as many snowflakes as possible.:wavey:

[Crimson Dynamo]

My new year resolution: To offend as many snowflakes as possible.:wavey:

It can get a blizzardy in Tibb towers

:joker:

[Withano]

I take it you enjoyed all your Christmas presents?

:idc:

Without the explanation, the photo is alarming :shrug: which i why i understand the backlash. You just wouldnt look at the, in the street and think 'oh what a lovely traditional treat to the eyes' your mind would just automatically jump to old people and blackface, because out of context that is exactly what it looks like.

Im sure that once the people who caused the backlash learned the story and tradition, they stopped caring.

Im sure youre not suggesting that blackface is acceptable and those who think they see it should carry on walking?

[Lostie!]

They were roundly abused and threatened with violence.

Such moral bastions of society.

[user104658]

Isn't there a masterful irony in people in the street accusing others of cultural ignorance, because they don't understand something because of... cultural ignorance?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Did LT - not post this?

#As well

Can't see another one?

are you saying all my posts look alike?

:suspect:

[DemolitionRed]

Special forces need to have a word http://skoogfors.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Military/G0000DEDxJEAW53o/I0000L5te08987gQ

[Tom4784]

shocking snowflakes who think that because they are right then that excuses them for abuse and hooliganism

I hope they perform again soon

Weren't you getting upset about people shopping in their pyjamas the other day?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Weren't you getting upset about people shopping in their pyjamas the other day?

:nono:

No I was agreeing with Tesco senior management that it was inappropriate and a health and sex hazard

[jennyjuniper]

It can get a blizzardy in Tibb towers

:joker:

This is true.:laugh:

[Brillopad]

More PC gone mad. Honestly some people really do need to lighten up and get over themselves. Always wanting to be seen as so highly principled.

[empire]

in a city like birmingham, that does not shock me, they hate english culture, and marxism has ruled that city for some years now,

[Jack_]

in a city like birmingham, that does not shock me, they hate english culture, and marxism has ruled that city for some years now,

:laugh2:

Ah yeah, I always love seeing 'Workers of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains' plastered on that beautiful shrine to the big man when I change trains at Birmingham New Street. Really perks me up for the day

They would be so lucky

[Tom4784]

in a city like birmingham, that does not shock me, they hate english culture, and marxism has ruled that city for some years now,

You've never been to Birmingham, have you?

[Livia]

This is Eddie Murphy... a black man, impersonating not just a white man... but a Jewish white man.

Are we all suitably outraged??? No. Of course not.

http://media1.break.com/dnet/media/2014/3/25/346651ff-6b32-4a1c-b36f-6b87496204b5.jpg

[Northern Monkey]

This is Eddie Murphy... a black man, impersonating not just a white man... but a Jewish white man.

Are we all suitably outraged??? No. Of course not.

http://media1.break.com/dnet/media/2014/3/25/346651ff-6b32-4a1c-b36f-6b87496204b5.jpg

I'm calling cultural appropriation:laugh:

[Tom4784]

This is Eddie Murphy... a black man, impersonating not just a white man... but a Jewish white man.

Are we all suitably outraged??? No. Of course not.

http://media1.break.com/dnet/media/2014/3/25/346651ff-6b32-4a1c-b36f-6b87496204b5.jpg

Vile.

I think Blackface is a particularly sore issue though because of the history of it, Minstrel shows and the like. It was a part of white culture to dehumanise black people through displays like the aforementioned Minstrel shows and even things like Golliwogs. A white person wearing black facepaint like that will always conjure up images and memories of those times.

[arista]

It was Debated on Daily Politics BBC2HD today
there was no change , as a result of that.