In the land of the perpetually offended, the Groan’s witterers ask the question in response to Cameron posing with blacked-up Morris dancers.
A photo opportunity with a world leader is never really casual; the politician always has a motive or communicative intent, the pendulum swinging between a wish to be seen as leader or wo/man of the people. And so the picture of David Cameron, daughter in his arms, posing with blacked-up Morris dancers at the Banbury folk festival, deserves to be read carefully.
In our modern world, much continues to be done in the name of culture and tradition that could be deemed inappropriate, if not unacceptable. Morris dancers who black up can no doubt understand why they might face criticism. In 2014, it is frankly tedious to explain, once again, why and how black-faced minstrels and golliwogs remain problematic. Clearly, Cameron doesn’t much care for this discussion either.
Yada, yada, yada, we’re all offended. Well, really no, I suspect most aren’t. Most couldn’t give a toss even if they noticed. If I saw black people posing in white make-up I wouldn’t be offended because there is nothing to get offended about. So what? Who cares? Who should care? It’s a non-issue.
I’d be upset if I contracted Ebola, but no, I won’t be upset about people blacking up or whiting up or whatever, because it really isn’t that important – and if you think it is, you really need to get yourself a sense of perspective. And Cameron posing with these people? No, it doesn’t say anything other than it’s just another photo opportunity for a vacuous, self-important politician. Nothing more, nothing less.
And the word “unacceptable” has become so over used, I tend to ignore those who trot it out every time they see or hear something they dislike. Get over yourself already.
It is really about control “You must dress how I tell you to”. That kind of Taliban needs to be put firmly back in its box.
However, if they fancy a harder target, how about seriously discussing Islamic face coverings which come charged with a political and social construct intended to exert control over both the wearer and those who view it. Nah, the cowards prefer going after some folky street-dancers. Much safer.
Actually I’m offended. I’m offended because blacking up is a way dancers and ‘beggars’ (very often from the mining community) made themselves hard to recognise when such activities were illegal or could result in losing their job. As such it is part of our social tradition and history. It has nothing whatsoever to do with race and it’s offensive that people should make the accusation that it does and insist our country’s traditions should be ignored.
To compare the Morris dancers to minstrels is to ignore the significance of the distinctive white paint the latter used to caricature facial features.
There is a certain irony in the fact that, thanks to the wholesale expunging of images, some of those drawing this emotive comparison may have no idea what minstrel make-up actually looked like.
A a Morris dancer, there’s a LOT of angst & greif over this in the past few years.
“blacking-Up” is usually (not always) done for reasons of “Guising” ( That is dis-guising)
So, that, if, on Plough Monday (One of the three usual occasions this was done) the local squire mas a meanie & refused to pay up for the cancers – his front drive would be ploughed up, by the dancers, who yoked themselves to the plough they were “carrying” with them.
Now, the local constable could probably quite well recognise the dancers, but he could honestly say in court “No y’honner, I couldn’t recognise nobodies, ’cause their faces were all black!”
The other two blackings up were usually the Sweeps festival (Jack in the green) & Border/molly dancers.
Incidentally, the group with Cameron appear to be from the “Border” tradition within Morris.
Oh & “The morris RIng” DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ALL DANCERS
More journalsitic tosh.
Presumably these people would be offended if Cameron stood alongside SAS soldiers or commandos with blacked up faces.
The Black Mollies regularly dance at the cheese rolling in Stilton, Cambridgeshire on the first Monday in May. It’s a lovely day out and the pubs are open and much real ale is on sale too. The dancers are certainly not offensive for is offence taken. I really think this ‘fuss’ is just manufactured nonsense by the Grauniad.