Plan B Forum

Gob wrote:NO!! FFS why?

Border Morris, as well as the East Anglian Molly dancers, and the Britannia Coconut clog dancers of Lancashire, use blackface. “From time to time, we do get people asking why, and they’re always very happy with the explanation and we smile and move on,” Finn says. “Sometimes we direct them to the available text, like the Border Morris page on Wikipedia.”

But that page reveals an unclear history and various explanations. “The most popular one is that it is a disguise that allowed impoverished 16th-century farm workers who were unable to earn money during harsh winters to go out and do a bit of begging and not be recognised for who they were,” Finn says.

But the other theories are more problematic. One traces the word “morris” to Moorish, and suggests the earliest performers were mimicking North African dancers. Studies of varying academic weight separately link the rise of Border Morris to that of American minstrel shows that launched the blacking-up-for-laughs craze of the 19th century.

According to these accounts, the minstrel shows that became ubiquitous in village halls across Britain began to influence other traditions. Morris dancers adopted “Not for Joe,” a song that mentioned “niggers” and the Wild West, while morris dancing is recorded to have been referred to colloquially as “going niggering”.

These accounts also suggest that minstrels gave morris dancing its enduring blackface tradition, but Finn prefers the disguise theory. “Talk to any morris dancer and nobody carries that feeling,” he says. He also recalls occasions – a mixed-race wedding and a citizenship ceremony in Dudley – when his side has performed without causing any offence. “Border dancing is healthy and good fun, and brings joy to dancers,” he says. “Trying to make an issue of some sort of minstrel past is tenuous, erroneous and unhelpful in celebrating this wonderful culture.”

Mummer's Day, or "Darkie Day" as it is sometimes known (a corruption of the original "Darking Day"), is an ancient Cornish midwinter celebration that occurs every year on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Padstow, Cornwall. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated throughout Cornwall where people would take part in the traditional custom of guise dancing, which involves disguising themselves by painting their faces black or wearing masks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummer's_Day

Gob wrote:

Mummer's Day, or "Darkie Day" as it is sometimes known (a corruption of the original "Darking Day"), is an ancient Cornish midwinter celebration that occurs every year on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Padstow, Cornwall. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated throughout Cornwall where people would take part in the traditional custom of guise dancing, which involves disguising themselves by painting their faces black or wearing masks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummer's_Day

bigskygal wrote:LJ, did you read the article I posted?

There is, in fact, a historical connection to racism that can asserted.

But the Finns are aware of how others could potentially mistake their motives. Finn, who has danced for 40 years, uses water-based make-up to cover the bits of his face that aren’t beard. Other Border Morris dancers, including Ann, prefer a strip of black across the middle of the face.

Why less? “In deference to my daughter-in-law,” Ann says. “She’s very sensitive because she’s a black American and is a bit confused by it because it’s not an American tradition.

“I hate the way people leap to conclusions which are misguided. Among our audience on Saturday were a father and his three mixed-race children. They were really enjoying the dancing like everyone else. There was no offence, and if I thought for a moment there would be then I wouldn’t do it.”

Lord Jim wrote: Well, here's what I see in the last three paragraphs of that article:

Why less? “In deference to my daughter-in-law,” Ann says. “She’s very sensitive because she’s a black American and is a bit confused by it because it’s not an American tradition.

THE decision to put Baa, Baa, Black Sheep out to pasture at some kindergartens because of racial concerns has been slammed by hundreds of Victorians.

Staff at childcare centres in the south-eastern suburbs told the Herald Sun the lyric was being changed because of concerns over the racial connotations of “black”, and to reflect a multicultural community.

Kindergarten teachers have told the Herald Sun a centre in Melbourne’s east had also considered changing the line “one for the little boy who lives down the lane” in case it could be deemed sexist.

SUSIE O’BRIEN: The world has gone bonkers


Black sheep not noticing any of the fuss.

Parents, teachers and hundreds of Herald Sun readers said it’s political correctness gone mad.
“What ignorance. The rhyme has nothing to do with race,” Amy said on heraldsun.com.au
Gavin said: “I am a person who has black skin. Can we please stop with the political correctness, it’s becoming a joke. The song is called baa baa black sheep. No need to change it!”

Leonie Meadows agreed: “It certainly is taking it too far. We have black sheep why can’t we call them black? Are we going to ban the colour black?”

One reader even took the time to come up with a new song - politically correct of course.

“Blah blah, that sheep

“Are you having a good day?

“I sure hope so

“Because I wouldn’t want to offend you

“In any way.”

Celine Pieterse, co-ordinator of Malvern East’s Central Park Child Care, said children could still use “black” if they chose to.

“We try to introduce a variety of sheep.”

At nearby Bubbles Pre-School, owner Belli Spanos encouraged the original lyrics: “There are black sheep and there are white sheep ... it’s not implying anything, other than the colour of the sheep.”

Cheltenham’s Lepage Primary principal came under fire in 2010 after pupils were told to replace “gay” with “fun” in Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gumtree.

The Education Department said it did not tell early learning staff what to teach children.