North Lincolnshire Museums Statement on Black Face Makeup in the Coleby Plough Jag

Black face makeup is occasionally used in English folk traditions, including Morris dance and mummers’ play performance. It is the practice of painting the face (and sometimes hands) with black paint, burnt cork, or other mediums. Regardless of intent, black face makeup has the capacity to cause discomfort.

It is difficult to know the exact origins of black face makeup. References to Morris sides or other folk custom practitioners blackening their faces tend to increase rapidly from the mid- to late- 19th century when many scholars believe it was influenced by the increased practice of Minstrelsy in Britain. Minstrels were a common sight, dancing and singing for money on street corners. It is believed this ability to earn money was an incentive for Morris dancers to adopt black faces.  

The Coleby Plough Jag was revived in 1973, and the practice of black face makeup was also revived based on the testimony of local people who remembered the Plough Jag performances. It is believed by some that black face makeup was used in the past as a disguise. Farm labourers would perform the Plough Jags and collect money, which was seen as begging and therefore illegal.    

The English Folk Dance and Song Society and the Joint Morris Organisations do not work with or accept the membership of any dance team that continues the practice of “blacking up” or any practice that could be considered racially offensive.   

The Coleby Plough Jag no longer uses the practice of black face makeup in their performance.

North Lincolnshire Museums retains photographs and records so as not to falsify the historical record.

You can read the English Folk Dance and Song Society statement on black face makeup here.