Olive Morris was a political activist and key figure in the fight for black women’s rights in Britain during the 1970s. In her short life, Morris raised awareness of inequalities by travelling, writing, organising protests, and setting up support groups. Her tireless efforts to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression left an indelible mark on British society and continue to inspire generations of activists.
Early Life and Education
Born on 26 June 1952 in Harewood, St Catherine’s, Jamaica, Olive Morris was the daughter of Vincent Nathaniel Morris and Doris Moseley. When she was nine years old, she and her brother, Basil, left their maternal grandmother and joined her parents in Lavender Hill, south London. Olive’s father worked as a forklift operator, while her mother was a factory shop steward.
Olive attended Heathbrook Primary School and then Lavender Hill Girls’ Secondary School, and Tulse Hill Secondary School. Although she left school without any qualifications, she later studied at the London College of Printing. She went on to earn a degree in economics and social science at Manchester University.
The political climate in 1960s and 1970s Britain
The late 1960s and 1970s were challenging times for Britain’s post-war African, African-Caribbean, and Asian communities. There was increased tension between the police and the black community, as well as attacks by fascist groups such as the National Front. Discrimination in housing and employment was also rampant, and systemic racism was particularly acute following Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech.
During this time, black families were disproportionately living in poverty and subjected to police brutality, while black children were often classified as educationally subnormal. The mounting racial tensions eventually culminated in the Brixton Riots of 1981.
Olive Morris’ Activism and Advocacy
The turning point: Desmond’s Hip City incident
Morris’ activism began in earnest following an incident of police brutality in November 1969. At just 17 years old, she became involved in a scuffle with the police after intervening in the wrongful arrest of a Nigerian diplomat for a parking offence in Brixton. She was physically assaulted, racially abused, and arrested, receiving a fine and a suspended sentence. This harrowing experience motivated Morris to dedicate her life to fighting injustice.
The Black Panther Movement and Brixton Black Women’s Group
In the early 1970s, Morris became a member of the youth section of the Black Panther movement, later known as the Black Workers Movement. She was also a founding member of the Brixton Black Women’s Group, which was one of the first networks for women of colour in Britain. Many black political organisations, including the Black Panthers and the Brixton Black Women’s Group, were based in and around Brixton, an area known for its counter-culture political activity.
Protests, squatting, and community organising
Morris organised and participated in numerous protests, including one in 1972 following the deaths of two black children in a public housing fire. She also engaged in squatting, occupying vacant or abandoned buildings to call attention to the housing crisis and homelessness. In one instance, she and a friend, Liz Obi, transformed a vacant flat above a launderette in South London into the Sabaar Bookshop, which catered to the black community and served as a meeting space for various activist groups.
International travels and learning experiences
Morris visited Germany, Italy, Northern Ireland, and China to broaden her knowledge and share her experiences with others. In China, she observed how workers were encouraged to develop ideas rather than simply complete mindless tasks. She wrote about her experiences in the Brixton Black Women’s Group newsletter and other publications, advocating for the importance of learning and critical thinking in the fight against oppression.
The organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent (OWAAD)
In 1978, Morris co-founded the Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent (OWAAD) with Stella Dadzie and other women. OWAAD was instrumental in mobilising black women to engage in politics and push back against inequalities, particularly in housing and education. The organisation held its first conference at the Abeng Centre on Gresham Road in Brixton, a centre Morris had helped establish along with Elaine Holness and other community members.
Olive Morris’ writing and literary contributions
As a burgeoning writer, Morris contributed to various publications, discussing topics like the Anti-Nazi League and the role of China in anti-imperialist struggles. She co-wrote a piece on the Anti-Nazi League with her partner, Mike McColgan, criticising the strategy of focusing on fighting fascism while largely ignoring the impact of institutionalised racism.
Olive Morris’ illness and legacy
In 1978, Morris was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after experiencing sudden pain during a trip to Spain. Despite undergoing treatment, her condition worsened, and she passed away on 12 July 1979 at St. Thomas’s Hospital in Lambeth, aged just 27.
Her premature death shocked her friends, family, and political colleagues, but her legacy lives on. A Lambeth council building was named after her in 1986, and a community garden and play area in the Myatt’s Fields area also bear her name. The Remembering Olive Collective, a community project established by Liz Obi in 2008, seeks to publicise her legacy and contribution to political struggle. In 2009, she was chosen by popular vote as one of the historical figures to feature on a local currency, the Brixton pound. In 2011, the Olive Morris Memorial Award was launched to provide bursaries to young black women.
Olive Morris’ life and activism are a powerful reminder of the importance of fighting for social justice and equality. Her legacy continues to inspire and empower generations of activists committed to dismantling systemic racism and advocating for the rights of marginalised communities.
