Photo Credit: Cricket Scotland
Earlier this week, Cricket Scotland were delighted to be invited to an event in Glasgow marking the start of Scottish Black History Month.
Head of EDI, Kash Taank, pictured here with Sandra Deslandes-Clark, the Chair of the Coalition of Racial Equality and Rights, was present at the event at Glasgow’s City Chambers. The keynote speaker was Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, Professor Emeritus of Life Sciences at Heriot Watt University, who became Scotland’s first black professor in 1989.
The first UK Black History Month was launched in October 1987 by the Greater London Council (GLC). CRER has co-ordinated a uniquely Scottish Black History Month during October since 2001, encompassing the history of African, Caribbean and Asian people in this country – people who often have a direct link with Scotland through slavery, colonialism and migration. Black History Month focuses on people whose sacrifices, contributions and achievements against a backdrop of racism, inequality and injustice are often forgotten about.
Kash said, “It’s really important that sport, and cricket in particular, recognises Black History Month and the key achievements and celebrations around it. Within the history of cricket are many incredible stories centred around diversity and migration, so it’s vital to recognise and understand these stories in order to appreciate the advancements we’ve made in our society. Cricket Scotland has a significant role to play in illustrating these stories and we look forward to doing so this month.”
Cricket Scotland is producing a variety of content during October to mark Black History Month. For more information about wider activity taking place across Scotland during October, visit www.blackhistorymonthscotland.org.
