This article is a contribution from our recent collaboration with pupils at Cedar Mount Academy.
Olive Morris is one of the most influential people in black Mancunian history.
In her pre-activist life, she was always one to not conform to society’s expectations. For example, she would go for a ‘queer revolutionary soul sister look’ – as Oumou Longley once said. Morris smoked, often went barefoot, and would commonly wear a short-cropped afro. This changed how she was perceived, as back then women were expected to be ‘lady-like’ and all had to act in a way that society deemed acceptable, going barefoot and smoking was not deemed lady-like during her time.
Her rebellious nature contributed to her being an upstander. It also played a big part in her decision to join the Black British Panthers (BBP).
The BBP was a very masculine rooted organisation that was noticeably big in the USA. The organisation was intended to improve the local communities and had a focus on housing and education. It spread from the US to the UK in 1967-1968, founded by Darcus Howe, Obi Egbuna, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Olive Morris (Morris being the only female). They helped challenge and change the racism that black people and south Asian people faced in housing, healthcare, employment etc. The BBP were also able to recompense the lack of knowledge on black history and understanding, creating their own Saturday schools. The BBP have helped and supported many events that are still popular and running to this day, for example, Notting Hill Carnival which was made with the intention of bringing harmony between all races and groups of people through dance, music, and food. It had also been a way for West Indian communities to celebrate and connect with their culture.
Morris was always very courageous and fearless, despite her small statue. A particularly good instance of this is the Gomwalk incident when the SUS Law was in place. The SUS Law was where the police were allowed to stop and search anyone they found ‘suspicious,’ which was not in the favour of all minority groups. Morris had noticed that Clement Gomwalk had been stopped and searched for being ‘suspicious’ and had involved herself in the conflict. This had guaranteed her arrest; she was also severely beaten up by the police officers and forced to strip her clothes to ‘show I was a girl’, as she later recalled.
Olive Morris had attended the Victoria University of Manchester to pursue her degree in social and economic science. She studied there for three years, from 1975 to 1978. During the three years she co-founded two groups, the Black Women’s Mutual Aid Group, and the Manchester Black Women’s Co-operative, working alongside Elouise Edwards and Kath Locke. Whilst here in Manchester, she also campaigned for the eradication of tuition fees for overseas students.
Although Morris has passed away due to blood cancer, she has left behind a strong and inspiring legacy. The Lambeth Council named a building in her honour, in 1986. The ‘Remembering Olive Collection’ set up a community to continue and enlighten others about her journey as an activist. She has even earned herself her own day, Olive Morris day, on her birthday, 26th June.