Tomorrow sees the 190th anniversary of the freeing of three-quarters of a million slaves in British colonies in the West Indies. In many former colonies August 1 is celebrated as Emancipation Day.
Today one of our readers contends that we should use the day to highlight Scotland’s grim role in slavery, and to try to come to terms with our legacy.
READ MORE: Scottish slave trader descendant to apologise for hangings
Alex Orr of Edinburgh writes:
"This Thursday (August 1) marks the 190th anniversary of the freeing of 750,000 slaves in British colonies in the West Indies.
"It was on this day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 was enacted, and in many of the UK’s former colonies this date is celebrated as Emancipation Day.
"The day also provides the opportunity to highlight Scotland’s long-airbrushed role in transatlantic slavery, stimulating a greater understanding of our nation’s involvement in these horrors, but we must do more.
"Scots played an incredibly important role as plantation owners, merchants and slave ship captains. Even Robert Burns was considering a position as a bookkeeper in a plantation before poetry revived his fortunes. In 1796, Scots owned nearly 30 per cent of the estates in Jamaica and by 1817, a staggering 32% of the slaves.
"It was slavery which played a major part in financing and powering the Industrial Revolution in Scotland, but it was Scots who, it must be remembered, also played a vital role in its abolition.
"In addition to pupils being taught of Scotland’s role in slavery, it is vital that we as a nation come to terms with our legacy through the establishment of a permanent memorial, dedicated to the millions of black Africans who suffered."
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