Glasgow City Council is being urged to increase the diversity of staff and teachers to help tackle racism, as part of its Black Lives Matter commitment.
It comes after a motion was passed by the city council in 2020 following the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020.
Councillors agreed to tackle access to employment and opportunities by removing discriminatory barriers, take more serious action against racism and racial hate crime incidents in Glasgow schools and recognise the historic legacy of chattel slavery based on the exploitation of enslaved Africans.
READ MORE: Black Lives Matter and Slavery Legacy working group set up by Glasgow City Council
A cross party working group was established by the council who carried out a study which discovered that there is a mixed level of knowledge and understanding of colonialism and slavery present within the city.
Research was carried out to determine the knowledge surrounding the background of key heritage sites, including Kelvingrove Art Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), which both have ties to slavery. Some participants were unaware that street names including Buchanan Street, Oswald Street and Jamaica Street had connections to transatlantic slavery while the University of Glasgow also benefited from the slave trade.
The results also showed that the city council needs to take more action to address the legacies of slavery, colonialism and present-day racism with several participants suggesting more action be taken to address the disproportionate levels of poverty experienced by BME communities in Glasgow, more support offered to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees living in the city.
It was also suggested that more action be taken to address the lack of BME staff working for the local authority including teachers.
A report which is being presented to members of the well-being, equalities, communities, culture and engagement committee on Thursday states: “It is clear that many if not most participants were unaware of some of the council’s current efforts in race equality matters.
“For example: – the BME employment working group which reviewed and monitored the progress of council departments which led to increased levels of BME staff working for the council from about 2% to 4% of the workforce.
“[Others were unaware of] the increased numbers of BME community organisations funded through the Council’s Community Fund – many for the first time –which contributed significantly to the teaching in a diverse Scotland report which put plans in place to increase BME teacher recruitment.”
Participants were also asked to answer the following question: “how interested if at all, are you in finding out more about Glasgow s links to the transatlantic slave trade and plantation slavery?”
Eighteen percent answered very interested, 34% fairly interested, 24% not very interested, 19% not at all interested and 5% said they didn’t know.
The cross-party working group has now agreed to find the resources for a temporary community engagement post that could work between museums and the council. This would create resources and engage more widely with communities.
This week the well-being committee will be asked to note the contents of the report, including the progress made by the legacy group so far and the proposals for a community engagement officer.
READ NEXT:
Glasgow man ordered to chop down 50ft trees that stop neighbour's clothes drying and 'ruined garden'
Stranger who stabbed Glasgow dad to death in unprovoked street attack is jailed for life
Gang kick in terrified pregnant Lenzie mum's front door and steal cars in dead of night
Stunning seven-bedroom Glasgow townhouse perfect for big families hits the market for £349,995
Tipping Point contestant makes blunder with 'Sauchiehall Street' answer
