Real Lives

Solidarity amongst us, personal racism testimonies

Here, we find the real life day-to-day experiences of racism that BAME people in Scotland have endured. These are all tangible stories of individuals I have personally interviewed who have shared various injustices that have befallen them for no reason other than their skin colour and/or ethnicity. Many have chosen to remain anonymous, weary of the possible repercussions that could come from their honesty, rather than secure in the fact that their revelations would bring to bear the racists who have wronged them. Either way, I am grateful to these brave individuals for coming forward to let us acknowledge what has happened to them as it is very cathartic for other BAME people and beneficial to our mental wellbeing to know we are not alone in our struggles of racial justice and equality. 

Racism Stories: Medicine, mental health

(watch this space...)

Racism Stories: Football, local & national games (Lyndon)

October 2020

Multicultural Jamaican Canadian roots

With all the historical migration from Scotland to Canada, growing up in the North American nation, you’d hear many stories romanticising Caledonian shores passed down through the generations. Such are their proliferation in the social zeitgeist that even newer immigrants from different locales are still subjected to them. That was the case with a Black Canadian whose family emigrated from Jamaica that we’ll call Lyndon. It’s fair to say he grew up comfortably in his multicultural Canadian community in Toronto exposed to a range of ethnic influences, including the aforementioned Scottish ones presenting the region in a positive light. So when he started his career and had a 1999 work opportunity to emigrate to Scotland, Lyndon had no qualms doing so. But upon arrival, he was admittedly surprised to find a very monocultural community, and even more so about what would happen next…read more

Racism Stories: Education, university (Adérónkẹ́)

September 2020

University of Ìbàdàn, Nigeria

When you win several academic awards throughout your studies, get a first-class for your first degree, and even land a lofty masters scholarship halfway across the world, you can certainly expect great things to unfold in your future. That was the case with a brilliant Nigerian graduate who we’ll call Adérónkẹ́ from the revered University of Ìbàdàn heading to St Andrews University on Scotland’s east coast, just over an hour’s drive north of Edinburgh. Adding to the self-assuredness was an instructor at the destination university, Professor Robin Flowerdew, filling out the scholarship application on her behalf, such was the promise seen in this talented young mind. Then with all the academic paperwork completed, it was time for the 27-year-old to pack her bags with pluck and head off into the beyond…slightly stalled with a few days delay processing the UK visa meaning a slight delay arriving on Scottish shores to start the academic term 2004-2005. Having missed some induction sessions, there was more to quickly adjust to than the sharp climate contrast from humid equatorial heat to chilling North Sea winds. Adérónkẹ́ was more than ready to catch up with any content she’d missed, but utterly unprepared for the behaviour about to be directed her way…read more