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Scotland's Black History

Scotland's Black History: Episode 7: It Wisnae Us

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Episode 7

Episode 7: It Wisnae Us

It Wisnae Us

BBC Radio Scotland - Scotland's Black History, It Wisnae Us

Billy Kay discovers new aspects of Scotland's hidden black history.

Billy Kay discovers new aspects of Scotland's hidden black history in every part of the country, from Kinlochmoidart to Glasgow and Angus to Argyll.

The title is from a book by Dr Stephen Mullen of Glasgow University, and refers to people's denial when confronted with uncomfortable aspects of their history.

We look at initiatives like Flag Up Scotland/Jamaica with its chair Graham Campbell. In Angus, Lisa Simmons describes slaving voyages from Montrose and reveals connections between estates there and Jamaica, where slaves and their bairns are given names such as Dundee, Angus and Aberdeen.

Sheila Kidd of Glasgow University's describes the extensive use of Gaelic there and the huge proportion of subscriptions an important Gaelic dictionary received from Gaels making their wealth from slavery. Dr S Karly Kehoe also explores Highland connections and how slave tainted money supported major new institutions such as the Royal Northern Infirmary and the Royal Academies in Tain and Fortrose.. 

Artist Graham Fagen confronts our black history in exhibitions at the Venice Biennale and Hospitalfield House in Arbroath and we hear Reggae star Ghetto Priest sing Burns' song The Virginia Slave's Lament. At Hospitalfield Billy talks to Laura Simpson and historians Dr Michael Morris of John Moores University and Karen Salt of Aberdeen University and asks how this history fits into the identity of 21st century Scotland.

BBC Radio Scotland

Billy Kay explores the country's contacts with Africa and people of African origin

Billy Kay explores the country's contacts with Africa and people of African origin from Roman times and beyond

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Episode 7: It Wisnae Us

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