African/Caribbeans in Scotland: a socio-geographical study

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the African/Caribbean people in Scotland whose contemporary as well as historical presence frequently remains unacknowledged and ignored. 'Mis "invisibility" is documented and challenged by the study reported here. Using a range of methodologies grounded primarily in the humanistic philosophies, this work provides an account of the social and cultural geography of the African/Caribbean presence in Scotland.

There are two principal objectives of the thesis. First to make the African/Caribbean presence in Scotland visible and secondly to challenge the prevailing view that racism does not exist in Scotland. To achieve the first objective, as well as to acknowledge the longstanding relationship between Africa and the Caribbean on one hand and Scotland and the Scottish people on the other, the historical aspects of that presence are examined. A descriptive analysis of African/Caribbean people's place at the Scottish royal court in the 16th century as well as in the homes of Scottish aristocracy during the 17th century is presented. The question of Scots involvement in African slavery as well as the practice of African slavery in Scotland which has been neglected in most histories of Scotland and in the general histories of Africans in Britain is brought to the fore. Ibis research establishes, in a way no previous research has done, the extent of African slavery in Scotland. One ideological corollary of that presence, racism, is examined showing, contrary to popular wisdom, that ideas of race and racism were developed, published and perpetuated by Scots in and outwith Scotland.

Today African/Caribbean people have a significant role in Scotland although their presence is rarely acknowledged by Scottish society, policy makers, or academia. Using a questionnaire survey, case studies, informal discussions and documentary sources as well as personal experiences the thesis challenges the prevailing view that African/Caribbean people are transients, students and visitors only. The study examines their reasons for being in Scotland and their length of stay here as well as providing a demographic picture of their presence. Their social status, education, employment and housing circumstances are examined and the role of the main institutions in marginalising African/Caribbeans and,, in doing so, rendering them invisible is considered. Contemporary racism experienced by African/Caribbeans is examined and the firidings used not only to refute the prevalent belief that racism does not exist in Scotland but also to develop ideas about the contextual and situational nature of British racism more generally. The policy implications of the findings are also listed and recommendations are made for future research.