Councillor’s tears as she pleads for anti-racism education
A councillor shed tears as she slammed colleagues for their “unconscious bias”in an emotional speech calling for better education around racism in schools.
Michelle Campbell, who is mixed-race, put forward a motion at a virtual full council meeting asking members to call on chief executive Sandra Black and director of children’s services, Steven Quinn, to work with the Scottish Government and other bodies - such as Education Scotland - to ensure more anti-racist teaching resources were included in the school syllabus.
The motion - which was voted through by a majority - called for education on the British colonies, as well as on the country’s “regrettable, but significant”part in the slave trade.
Calls were also made for Mr Quinn to provide training to teachers to enable them to discuss sensitive topics around racism.
But, just before the motion was voted through - with a slight amendment from the Labour group - Councillor Campbell hit out at some elected members in a passionate speech following some heated debates in the Microsoft Teams chamber.
She said:“Today, there’s been so many examples of unconscious bias and I am so furious with the amount of white privilege and entitlement, and I share a chamber with you people. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
“I have dealt with racism my whole life.
“I’ve experienced that hate, despite the education that has been spoken about.
“We have had legislative changes for decades, yet where is the cultural change to go with that?
“I will not sit in this chamber and be lectured by any of my colleagues when I am the only person of colour in this chamber, which is not reflective of our communities.
“There is a need for anti-racist education. It is well overdue.
“We must give a voice to the unheard in our history.
“There has been an avoidance of addressing this properly and now is the time for change.”
Councillor Campbell, who represents Erskine and Inchinnan, accepted an amendment from Labour man Jim Sharkey, which asked the council to also acknowledge the work of anti-slavery campaigners and for that to be included in educational resources.
Councillor Campbell’s speech came following a dispute over whether historic Johnstone figure John Fraser should be honoured with a plaque in Johnstone Town Hall.
Members were at loggerheads over whether to vote through Councillor Andy Doig’s motion to honour Mr Fraser - who founded the town’s Co-operative Society - or whether the community should be the ones to decide if he was commemorated.
Eventually, Councillor Doig’s motion was passed and a plaque will be erected.