Black History Month: Making political inroads
Graham Campbell wants to be taken more seriously as a politician - and wishes he was asked about policies rather than his ethnicity.
Last updated 12th Oct 2020
Glasgow's first African Caribbean councillor's telling Forth 1 he does not always feel he is taken seriously as a politician.
Councillor Graham Campbell says people are more concerned with asking him about BAME subjects and issues, rather than those he is actually an expert in. He also says even as a prominent local politician, he still experiences micro-aggressions in his everyday life.
Councillor Campbell's hoping to become Scotland's first Black MSP and he is bidding to become the SNP's candidate for Edinburgh West at next year's Holyrood election.
He said: “I get asked a lot about Black subject matters, but I don’t get asked to do interviews on politics, economics, housing… I don’t get asked about mainstream policy stuff.
“I want to get to the stage where I’m asked as a politician, who had votes in three budgets, who is active the community… who is on the education committee about things like schooling. It would be nice if I was asked about the policy areas I’m responsible for.
“When we get to that stage, that’s when we will know we’ve made real progress.
"We need to live lifes that are free and meaningful and equal.
"It would be nice to go into a shop and not be followed around the the secutiry guard and not suspected of shop lifting.
"I'm in my fifties, I don't have time to go round and shop lift. That's what's still happening to me so you can only imagine what it's like for young men."
Councillor Campbell is speaking to Forth 1 as we celebrate Black History Month. During October we are showcasing some of the inspirational stories from the region/city's Black community.
This national celebration lasts for the whole month and aims to promote and celebrate Black contributions to British society, and to foster an understanding of Black history in general. Its origins go back to the 1920s.
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