Black people in Scotland
Encyclopedia
Black people in Scotland represent a small proportion (0.16% according to the 2001 census, although as of 2011 this number is likely to be much higher) of the country's overall population, although the Black
population of Scotland
has a long history.
belonged to the Moors
. This led to his election as #36 on the list of 100 Great Black Britons
, even though there was no sense of British nationality at the time. Connections between Scotland and the Moors are unknown, although there is no doubt that in Gaelic his title of 'Dubh' did not refer to his skin colour, as it usually refers to hair colour rather than skin tone in Scottish Gaelic. In addition, his father was known as Dubh, therefore making his title likely to be denoting ancestry as much as hair colour or race.
Scottish 'Tobacco
Lords' played a leading role in the slave trade and by 1817 it was estimated that one third of all slaves in Jamaica
were held by these Scots. This role in slavery led to the first significant documented Black population in Scotland, as slave owners brought slaves back to serve as household servants. In some cases, slaves were freed through manumission
.
According to the 2001 UK Census people self described as Caribbean, African, Black Scottish or any other Black background make up 0.16 per cent of Scotland's population, compared to 1.96 per cent of the overall UK population.
-born Andrew Watson is widely considered to be the world's first black association footballer to play at international level. He was capped
three times for Scotland
between 1881 and 1882. Watson also played for Queen's Park
, the leading Scottish club at the time, and later became their secretary. He led the team to several Scottish Cup
wins, thus becoming the first black player to win a major competition.
With some brief exceptions, such as Jamaica
n Gil Heron
at Celtic
, Walter Tull
signing for Rangers, and John Walker at Hearts, Black players largely disappeared from Scottish football for the next 100 hundred years until the arrival of Mark Walters
at Rangers
in 1988. Walters arrival at the club resulted in incidents of racial abuse.
Subsequently a number of Black players have appeared for leading clubs, listed below. The Scotland national team did not call up a second Black player until Nigel Quashie
, an English
-born midfielder whose grandfather was from Scotland, made his debut against Estonia
in May 2004. Subsequently Coatbridge
native Chris Iwelumo
, who is half-Nigeria
n, has also played for Scotland. Other notable black players include:
Alongside these a number of other non-Scots have made an impact on the game in Scotland. These include:
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
population of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
has a long history.
History
A farfetched theory has been advanced by people who evidently aren't historians or Gaelic-speaking that King Kenneth III of ScotlandKenneth III of Scotland
Cináed mac Duib anglicised as Kenneth III, and nicknamed An Donn, "the Chief" or "the Brown", was King of Scots from 997 to 1005. He was the son of Dub...
belonged to the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
. This led to his election as #36 on the list of 100 Great Black Britons
100 Great Black Britons
The 100 Great Black Britons list was compiled as a response to the BBC's 100 Greatest Britons debate of .Patrick Vernon, founder of black heritage website Every Generation, pointed out that no black people had made it to the top 100, saying that this was due in part to many people being unaware of...
, even though there was no sense of British nationality at the time. Connections between Scotland and the Moors are unknown, although there is no doubt that in Gaelic his title of 'Dubh' did not refer to his skin colour, as it usually refers to hair colour rather than skin tone in Scottish Gaelic. In addition, his father was known as Dubh, therefore making his title likely to be denoting ancestry as much as hair colour or race.
Scottish 'Tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
Lords' played a leading role in the slave trade and by 1817 it was estimated that one third of all slaves in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
were held by these Scots. This role in slavery led to the first significant documented Black population in Scotland, as slave owners brought slaves back to serve as household servants. In some cases, slaves were freed through manumission
Manumission
Manumission is the act of a slave owner freeing his or her slaves. In the United States before the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished most slavery, this often happened upon the death of the owner, under conditions in his will.-Motivations:The...
.
According to the 2001 UK Census people self described as Caribbean, African, Black Scottish or any other Black background make up 0.16 per cent of Scotland's population, compared to 1.96 per cent of the overall UK population.
Problems for Black people in Scotland
A report in 2000 suggested that Black people in Scotland had difficulties in feeling a sense of Scottish identity, whilst there has also been criticism that Black people are not well represented in Scottish society generally.Entertainment
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(DJ) - Scottish parent - Tony OsobaTony OsobaTony Osoba is a Scottish actor best known for his role as Jim 'Jock' McClaren in the popular 70s British sitcom Porridge, and appeared in its sequel Going Straight. Osoba was the first black Scottish actor to appear on primetime television when he appeared in the series.His other roles include...
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(musician) - Emeli SandéEmeli SandéAdele Emeli Sandé , known by her stage name Emeli Sande, is a Scottish R&B and Soul recording artist and songwriter, from Aberdeen, Scotland...
(musician)
Association Football
The British GuianaBritish Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
-born Andrew Watson is widely considered to be the world's first black association footballer to play at international level. He was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
three times for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
between 1881 and 1882. Watson also played for Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
, the leading Scottish club at the time, and later became their secretary. He led the team to several Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
wins, thus becoming the first black player to win a major competition.
With some brief exceptions, such as Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n Gil Heron
Gil Heron
Gil Heron was a Jamaican professional footballer. He was the first black player to play for Scottish club Celtic, and was the father of poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron....
at Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, Walter Tull
Walter Tull
Walter Daniel John Tull was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward for Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town...
signing for Rangers, and John Walker at Hearts, Black players largely disappeared from Scottish football for the next 100 hundred years until the arrival of Mark Walters
Mark Walters
Mark Everton Walters is a retired professional footballer from Birmingham, England.-Aston Villa:Walters began his career as an apprentice at Aston Villa on leaving school in the summer of 1980, turning the professional a year later - just after Villa's Football League First Division title triumph...
at Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in 1988. Walters arrival at the club resulted in incidents of racial abuse.
Subsequently a number of Black players have appeared for leading clubs, listed below. The Scotland national team did not call up a second Black player until Nigel Quashie
Nigel Quashie
Nigel Francis Quashie is a British footballer who has played more than 300 games in the Football League. He plays as a midfielder, and has represented Scotland, the country of his grandfather, at full international level. He was released by Queens Park Rangers in 2010.-Personal life:Quashie was...
, an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born midfielder whose grandfather was from Scotland, made his debut against Estonia
Estonia national football team
The Estonia national football team represents Estonia in international association football. Team members are selected by the head coach of Estonian Football Association . Estonia play their home matches at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
in May 2004. Subsequently Coatbridge
Coatbridge
Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, about east of Glasgow city centre, set in the central Lowlands. The town, with neighbouring Airdrie, is part of the Greater Glasgow urban area. The first settlement of the area stretches back to the Stone Age era...
native Chris Iwelumo
Chris Iwelumo
Christopher Robert "Chris" Iwelumo is a Scottish footballer who plays for Watford as a striker.Iwelumo started his career with St Mirren before moving to Danish club Aarhus Fremad for two years. A move to Stoke City in 2000 saw him sent out on loan to several teams before a short-lived spell with...
, who is half-Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n, has also played for Scotland. Other notable black players include:
- Ikechi AnyaIkechi AnyaIkechi Anya plays as a striker for Spanish club Cádiz, on loan from Granada.-Early life:Anya was born in Glasgow, Scotland, his father is a Nigerian research scientist, and his mother a Romanian economist. The couple met while studying at the Universities in Bucharest...
- Kevin HarperKevin HarperKevin Patrick Harper is a Scottish football player. He is currently without a club following his release from Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish First Division.- Early career :...
- Chris IwelumoChris IwelumoChristopher Robert "Chris" Iwelumo is a Scottish footballer who plays for Watford as a striker.Iwelumo started his career with St Mirren before moving to Danish club Aarhus Fremad for two years. A move to Stoke City in 2000 saw him sent out on loan to several teams before a short-lived spell with...
- Vic Kasule
- Brian McPheeBrian McPheeBrian McPhee is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a striker. He signed for Scottish Junior Cup Winners Bathgate Thistle after his release from Dumbarton on 29 April 2008....
- Daniel OgunmadeDaniel OgunmadeDaniel Ogunmade is a Scottish footballer who plays for US-based Mercer University.-Career:Ogunmade started his career with Dundee United but made only one league appearance as a substitute and was loaned to lower league clubs Forfar Athletic and Ross County...
- Iffy OnuoraIffy OnuoraIfem "Iffy" Onuora is a coach a former professional footballer born in Scotland of Nigerian descent.He was recently the head coach of the Ethiopia national team...
- Emmanuel PantherEmmanuel PantherEmmanuel Ugochukwu Ezenwa "Manny" Panther is a Scottish professional footballer of Nigerian descent who plays for Conference National side Grimsby Town as a midfielder, on loan from Aldershot Town....
- Nigel QuashieNigel QuashieNigel Francis Quashie is a British footballer who has played more than 300 games in the Football League. He plays as a midfielder, and has represented Scotland, the country of his grandfather, at full international level. He was released by Queens Park Rangers in 2010.-Personal life:Quashie was...
- Andrew Watson
Alongside these a number of other non-Scots have made an impact on the game in Scotland. These include:
- Paul Elliott
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- Henrik LarssonHenrik LarssonHenrik Edward Larsson MBE is a retired Swedish footballer and current manager of Landskrona BoIS.Larsson began his career with Högaborgs BK. He moved to Helsingborg, where he was one of the key players when they qualified to Allsvenskan 1993. Larsson then moved to Feyenoord for four years before...
- Regi BlinkerRegi BlinkerReginald "Regi" Waldi Blinker is a former Dutch footballer of Surinamese extraction, who played as a left winger....
- Didier AgatheDidier AgatheDidier Fernand Agathe is a professional footballer who currently plays for JS Saint-Pierroise in Réunion....
- Bobo BaldéBobo BaldeDianbobo "Bobo" Baldé is a Guinean footballer who currently plays for AC Arles-Avignon. He has previously played for Mulhouse, AS Cannes, Toulouse, Celtic and Valenciennes...
- Marc-Antoine FortunéMarc-Antoine FortunéMarc-Antoine Fortuné is a French footballer who plays for Premier League club West Bromwich Albion.-Early life:...
- Basile BoliBasile BoliBasile Boli is a French former footballer and current television sports presenter.-Career:Although born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Boli moved to France at an early age and began his career in local youth football in Paris before signing for AJ Auxerre in 1982...
- Rod WallaceRod WallaceRodney Seymour "Rod" Wallace is a retired English footballer.Wallace played predominantly as a striker or part of an attacking forward line. He started his career at Southampton in 1988 playing 128 league games scoring 45 goals. This form earned him a transfer to Leeds where he won the first...
- Marcus GayleMarcus GayleMarcus Anthony Gayle is an English born Jamaican former professional footballer who played as a striker or winger, though towards the end of his career he also played as a central defender...
- Russell LatapyRussell LatapyRussell Nigel Latapy is a Trinidad and Tobago footballer who plays for Edinburgh City as an attacking midfielder.In a senior career which spanned more than 20 years at both club and international level, he played in Portugal and Scotland .Latapy...
- Marvin AndrewsMarvin AndrewsMarvin Andrews is a Trinidadian football defender. He currently plays for Scottish Junior Club side Kirkintilloch Rob Roy....
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- Maurice EduMaurice EduMaurice Edu is an American soccer player who plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League and the United States national team.- Early life :...
- Sone AlukoSone AlukoOmatsone "Sone" Aluko is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Scottish Premier League club Rangers. Aluko began his career at Birmingham City but failed to make any league appearances. He joined Aberdeen on loan in the 2007–2008 season and was loaned to Blackpool at the...
- Jerel IfilJerel IfilJerel Christopher Ifil is an English footballer who plays for Kettering Town as a defender. He is the elder brother of defender Philip Ifil, who also plays for Kettering Town.-Career:...
- Prince BuabenPrince BuabenPrince Buaben is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who currently plays for Npower Championship club Watford F.C in England, and the Ghana national team....
- Pele
- Jason ScotlandJason ScotlandJason Kelvin Scotland is a Trinidadian footballer who plays for Ipswich Town as a striker.Scotland started his footballing career in Trinidad and Tobago before moving to play professionally for Scottish club Dundee United. He has also had spells with St...
- Enoch ShowunmiEnoch ShowunmiEnoch Olusesan Showunmi a footballer who currently plays for Tranmere Rovers. He plays as a striker. Born in England, he played for Nigeria at international level and won two caps for the team.-Pre-football:...
- Mickaël Antoine-CurierMickaël Antoine-CurierMickaël Antoine-Curier is a French born Guadeloupean professional footballer who currently plays in Cyprus for Ethnikos Achnas....
- Laryea KingstonLaryea KingstonLaryea Kingston is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who is currently playing for Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Israel...
- David ObuaDavid ObuaDavid Obua is a Ugandan footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Hearts and the Uganda national team.Having arrived at Hearts as a left wing-back, Obua has primarily been used as a left-sided midfield player, although he has also played a number of times as a striker.-Club career:Born...
- Sol Bamba
- Yves Makabu-Makalambay
- Simon FordSimon FordSimon Gary Ford is an English-born Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a defender for Football League One side Chesterfield....
- Giles CokeGiles CokeGiles Christopher Coke is an English footballer who currently plays for Football League One side Bury on loan from Sheffield Wednesday.-Club career:...
- Colin Samuel
Miscellaneous
- Paul BoatengPaul BoatengPaul Yaw Boateng, Baron Boateng is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Brent South from 1987 to 2005, becoming the UK's first black Cabinet Minister in May 2002, when he was appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury...
(politician) - Scottish parent - John EdmonstoneJohn EdmonstoneJohn Edmonstone was originally a black slave probably born in Demarara . He learned taxidermy from Charles Waterton, whose father in law, Charles Edmonstone had a plantation in Demarara.After he was freed, John came to Glasgow with his former master, Charles Edmonstone...
(university professor) - Jackie KayJackie KayJackie Kay MBE is a Scottish poet and novelist.-Biography:Jackie Kay was born in Glasgow in 1961 to a Scottish mother and a Nigerian father, Jonathan C. Okafor who later became a prominent tropical plant taxonomist...
(writer)
In fiction
- Tavish Degroot, also known as "The Demoman", from Team Fortress 2Team Fortress 2Team Fortress 2 is a free-to-play team-based first-person shooter multiplayer video game developed by Valve Corporation. A sequel to the original mod Team Fortress based on the Quake engine, it was first released as part of the video game compilation The Orange Box on October 10, 2007 for Windows...
is a self-described "black Scottish cyclops". - Jerome "Chef" McElroyChef (South Park)Jerome "Chef" McElroy is a fictional character on the Comedy Central series South Park. He was voiced by Isaac Hayes. A cafeteria worker at the local elementary school in the town of South Park, Colorado, Chef was generally portrayed as more level-headed than the other adult residents of the town...
, a character from South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, hails from Scotland. - Jim "Jock" McClarenMcClaren (Porridge)Jim McClaren was a character in the popular BBC sitcom Porridge played by Tony Osoba.McClaren, who claims to have been adopted, is Black and also Scottish. This led to a string of racist abuse when he first arrived at Slade prison. Fletch also attacks him for being Scottish in a manner similar to...
, a character in PorridgePorridge (TV series)Porridge is a British situation comedy broadcast on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977, running for three series, two Christmas specials and a feature film. Written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, it stars Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale as two inmates at the fictional HMP Slade in Cumberland...
.
See also
- Black people in IrelandBlack people in IrelandSince the mid-16th century there have been small numbers of black people resident in Ireland, mainly concentrated in the major towns, especially Dublin. Many of those in the 18th century were servants of wealthy families...
- Black BritishBlack BritishBlack British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
- Scottish JamaicanScottish JamaicanA Scottish Jamaican is a Jamaican with Scottish ancestry. Scottish Jamaicans include those of European and mixed Asian and African ancestry with Scottish ancestors, and date back to the earliest period of post-Spanish, European colonisation....
- Demographics of ScotlandDemographics of ScotlandScotland has a population of 5,222,100 . Covering an area of , Scotland has a population density of . Around 70% of the country's population live in the Central Lowlands — a broad, fertile valley stretching in a northeast-southwest orientation between the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and...
- Spain (surname)Spain (surname)Spain a surname English, Norman, French, Irish in origin, but linked to expatriates, or colonialists, who either had origins in Spain or had spent a significant amount of time there...