Dundee Labour councillor urges colleagues to stop using phrase ‘nitty gritty’ in meetings over claims it was used as term for slaves in 18th century
- Councillor Georgia Cruickshank urged peers to avoid ‘slave traders’ language’
- The expression ‘nitty gritty’ is thought to have originated from the 18th century
- Dundee’s historic links to the slave trade have been unearthed and scrutinised
- A number of statues have been targeted due to associations with the slave trade
Dundee councillors have been urged to stop using ‘slave traders’ language’ in council meetings by one of their peers.
The phrase ‘nitty gritty’, which is thought to have originated from the 18th century and was used as another term for slaves, is part of the lexicon Labour councillor Georgia Cruickshank is attempting to put a stop to.
She said: ‘Being a woman of colour, I know only too well what racism feels like and to be discriminated against because of the colour of your skin.
‘We must educate our children about black history. We must not glorify the slave traders who built their empires off the back of black people.
Labour councillor Georgia Cruickshank has urged peers to stop using ‘slave traders’ language’
Black Lives Matter protests have been held across the world to campaign against racism
‘We must embrace diversity, teach tolerance and understanding of black and ethnic minority lives, and stop using slave traders’ language such as “nitty gritty” in our council chambers.’
The origin of the term has been long since associated with the English slave trade.
A suggestion was made in 2005 that the phrase was used to describe the unimportant debris left at the bottom of ships after the slaves had been removed.
The meaning was reportedly extended to then include the slaves themselves.
A ‘hit list’ of statues and memorials to some of Britain’s most famous figures has been created
The demonstrations have led to increased scrutiny over the UK’s past links to the slave trade
Dundee’s historic links to the slave trade have also come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks amid the Black Lives Matter protests taking place across the world.
An anti-racist protesters’ group, ‘Topple the Racists’, identified two statues as part of its hit list – the statue of slave owner George Kinloch in Dundee’s Albert Square, and the Melville Monument to Henry Dundas on Dunmore Hill.
Local councillors have raised concerns about the three streets in the city that are named after Dr Walter Tullideph, who ran plantations and owned slaves on the Caribbean island of Antigua in the 18th century.
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander admitted he was ‘horrified’ after the city’s links to the slave trade were unearthed.
He has also ordered a review into the now-controversial statue of Kinloch.
He said: ‘It’s important that people’s voices are heard in the current discussion and I know that there are a huge variety of opinions on what actions should and shouldn’t be taken.
‘It’s also important for all of us to educate ourselves in light of recent events.’
Richard McGready, Dundee Labour councillor, encouraged a debate over how slave ownership should now be reflected upon in the city and called for the ‘voice of black people’ to be heard.
‘The various streets in my ward are named after Dr Walter Tullideph,’ he said.
‘There should be, at the very least, some way of commemorating the slaves who created the wealth that allowed Dr Tullideph to buy estates in Scotland, which led to streets being named after him.
‘We should have a debate and listen to the voice of black people in the city.’
The mural of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police officers in the US sparked the worldwide demonstrations, was vandalised with a white supremacy symbol before campaigners then repainted it with an anti-facist message.
And amid the renewed calls for awareness and change, SNP councillor Lynne Short, also the council equalities spokeswoman, insisted that she supports improved dialogue over the issue.
She admitted that she had not been aware of links between Dr Tullideph and slave ownership as well as the controversies concerning Kinloch.
‘It brings home, historically, how much black lives didn’t matter,’ she said. ‘He was a radical supporter of the rights of the people of the city but he didn’t make the comparison between the two.
‘Black lives matter. End of story.’