Man ‘blacked-up’ and sang Mammy to black colleague
A 62-YEAR-OLD man dressed up as a black and white minstrel during a works party and sang in the face of a black employee to mock her, a court has heard.
Brian Davies allegedly caused the woman “alarm, distress and offence” by blacking up his face and performing during a Christmas outing with colleagues.
Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard catering manager Loretta Dayley was “singled out” when Davies directed the black and white minstrel song “Mammy” at her at the Coopers Carvery in Cardiff.
Prosecutor Robert Reid said Mr Davies had depicted a character from the Black and White Minstrel Show, shown on British TV in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Reid said: “The show was part of mainstream culture and entertainment. But we have moved on and social attitudes have changed.”
Mr Reid said Mr Davies had insisted Miss Dayley attend the carvery do for employees of the Priory Group on December 19 last year, telling her he had bought her a “present” after she had initially showed “reluctance” to go.
Mr Reid said: “The persistence he displayed on her attending shows that he was intent on focusing this particular prank on her. At the Christmas outing he retired briefly before returning, dressed as a black and white minstrel from a television show, and he sang a number of lines from that show, paying attention to Miss Dayley.”
Footage of the incident was played in court, showing Davies with his face blackened and wearing a boater hat, a white shirt, and swinging around a cane while singing at Miss Dayley.
But Mr Reid said the incident left Miss Dayley “distressed”, saying she had been off work for “some time” and was receiving medication.
She broke down in tears while telling the court via video link how she felt “humiliated” during the stunt.
She said: “Because everyone was laughing I started laughing too. But I was really embarrassed. Everyone was roaring with laughter and I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.”
Miss Dayley said she recognised the song as “Mammy” sung by black and white minstrels, saying she knew it “was deemed a racist song”.
Mr Davies, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, denies using threatening or abusive words or behaviour causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
The trial continues.