Skip to main content
The Morris Ring
The Morris Ring
The founding National Association of Morris and Sword Dance Clubs
facebook
bluesky
  • Home
  • Morris Ring
    • Elected Officers
    • Area Representatives
    • Appointed Officers
    • Constitution
    • Advisory Council
    • History
      • Past Squires
      • Past Bagmen
      • Past Treasurers
      • Side Histories
      • Index of Morris Ring Meetings
      • 50 Years of Morris Dancing
    • Morris Ring Archives
      • Photographic Archive
      • Morris Ring Film Archive - Public Online Content
  • Events
    • Monthly Calendar
    • Traditional Morris Events
      • January
      • Easter
      • St George's Day
      • May Day
      • Whitsun
      • Summer
      • Christmas
  • Find a side
  • About Morris
    • The Magic of the Morris
    • Cotswold Morris
    • Border Morris
    • North West Morris - Lancashire and Cheshire
    • Longsword Dancing
    • Rapper Sword Dance
    • Molly Dancing
    • New Morris Dances Record
    • Girls’ Carnival Morris
    • Rush-Bearing
    • Cecil Sharp 1859-1924
    • History - Before the Restoration
    • Bibliography
    • European Origins?
    • Fools and Beasts
    • Just Fools
    • Mummers
  • Morris Music
    • Morris Dance Music
    • A Handbook of Morris Dances
    • Morris Traditions & Tunes
    • Musical Instruments
    • The Music Tells You - The Origins of Cotswold Morris Music. A thesis by Gwilym Davies
    • Gwilym Davies Thesis Recordings
    • Joan Sharp, Pipe & Tabor
  • Publications
    • Bagman's Newsletters
    • Area and Sides Newsletters
    • The Morris Dancer
    • Morris Ring Circular
    • Morris Tradition booklet
  • Links
  • Contact
  • For sides
    • Logging in to the website
    • MR Google Group
      • MRGG Etiquette
    • A Guide to Membership
    • A Guide for Morris Side Officers
    • Arranging a Ring Meeting - A Guide
    • Black Make-Up in Morris Costume
    • Diversity and Inclusion - The Morris Ring
    • Find a Side
    • General Data Protection Regulations 2018
    • Insurance for Sides
    • Insurance: Personal Accident
    • Jigs ... some thoughts
    • Organising JMO Day of Dance
    • Presentation & Awareness
    • Public Collections
    • Putting on a Show
    • Recruitment
    • Risk Assessment
    • Safeguarding Policy & Advice
    • Traffic Management Planning for Morris Processions

Does Black Face Paint Matter?

11 June 2020

Does Black Face Paint Matter?

We are sure all of our members will be well aware of the tragic murder of George Floyd and the breadth of the protests demanding that black lives are truly valued. They are a realisation not only of anger at was has gone wrong, but they also offer an opportunity for change to be made possible.

Social media has already evidenced the concern  that the vexed issue of blacking up is seen as a manifestation of part of the problem, and perhaps it is an appropriate time for us to ask again, “Does black face paint matter?”

The Morris Ring is not a regulator or governing body. It is for sides to decide themselves how they wish to perform. However, clubs will need to clearly understand why they are using black face paint, and be open about why they are performing using it with their audience, local communities, national press and social media. They must also be ready to defend their arguments if challenged, which may seem weaker in the light of current events.

To aid your reflections we would remind you of the recent advice we gave in March - Notice to Membership re use of black face make-up

Pete Simpson

Squire of the Morris Ring

Events diary

2025
17 May Westminster Morris Dancers Day of Dance
30 May Thaxted Morris weekend (NOW FULL!)
19 Jul Anker Morris Men Ring Meeting - Nuneaton
16 Aug Stratford-upon-Avon Day of Dance Morris Ring Meeting
22 Aug Saddleworth Rushcart Weekend
13 Sep Celebrating 100 years of Morris Dancing in Ripley

See all future events

See also the list of 
Traditional Morris Events

Powered by Backdrop CMS

All content ©2025 The Morris Ring unless otherwise stated.

Website by Natty Web Development.

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Report a problem
  • Member login