Tackle prejudice

In a timely reminder of Scotland’s links with the slave trade, Brian Wilson could have developed his argument about race and discrimination further (Perspective, 20 April). This was a week that did not just highlight the controversy over the citizenship of those who came here from the Caribbean in the middle of the last century. It was the week that saw the 50th anniversary of Enoch Powell’s “Rivers of Blood” speech and an excellent three-part BBC documentary about the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and its aftermath. Even if the Commonwealth heads of state conference had not been taking place, the whole question of history, exploitation, race relations, international co-operation and trying to airbrush some of these events from history ought to be high on the political agenda.

I certainly agree with Mr Wilson that there is often a misplaced sense of self-congratulation about both Scottish and British identity. There is also

too keen a tendency to interpret some of these events in a simplistic way. Scotland does not owe all of the wealth created in the 18th and 19th century to the slave trade. Enoch Powell raised some relevant points about immigration policy but chose distasteful, inflammatory

language to express his opposition to race relations legislation. Too many generalisations were made about police officers all over the country as the Lawrence affair dragged out for decades. The Caribbean immigrants made an enormous contribution to

business and social services over the decades but there was insufficient effort from government to ensure balanced communities in large cities south of the Border. There is still more racial prejudice than many of us are prepared to admit. We should confront all of this not by slogans, but by a more rigorous study of history than has taken place up to now.

BOB TAYLOR

Shiel Court, Glenrothes