Mapping the reckoning: a timeline of Scotland's universities and slavery-derived wealth
As I was writing the literature review for my doctorate, I realized that a visual timeline might help me to understand the interconnectedness of different events. This would help me to see the different and interwoven threads of events related to anti-racism and decolonizing within higher education. This is a small, evolving snapshot.
The timeline below can be viewed in portrait or landscape mode for viewing ease. References are provided but this is a work in progress.
Produced with the assistance of Claude Opus 4 (Anthropic, 2026).
Reference list*
this is a working list and is not exhaustive*
University slavery reports
Anderson, R. (2023). Legacies of Slavery [Exhibition and research project]. University of Aberdeen. https://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/strategy-and-governance/legacies-of-slavery/
Finlay, R. (2023). Report on the University of Strathclyde's historical links to transatlantic slavery. University of Strathclyde. https://www.strath.ac.uk/whystrathclyde/news/2023/reportshedslightonhistoricallinkstotransatlanticslavery/
Fyfe, A., Robinson, I., Vancisin, T., Leith, S., & Ylitalo, M. W. (2025). The University of St Andrews and the Legacies of Empire, 1700–1900. University of St Andrews. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14975043
Gooptar, C. (2022). University of Dundee Founders Project: Final Report. University of Dundee. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/university-of-dundee-founders-project-final-report
Mullen, S., & Newman, S. (2018). Slavery, Abolition and the University of Glasgow. University of Glasgow. https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_607547_smxx.pdf
Research and Engagement Working Group. (2025). Decolonised Transformations: Confronting the University of Edinburgh's History and Legacies of Enslavement and Colonialism. University of Edinburgh. https://www.ed.ac.uk/about/race-review
University of Glasgow. (2019). Historic agreement sealed between Glasgow and West Indies universities [Press release, 23 August 2019]. https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/archiveofnews/2019/september/headline_667960_en.html
Policy and sector responses
Advance HE. (2015). Race Equality Charter. https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/equality-charters/race-equality-charter
CRER. (2025). Racial Inequality in Scotland: State of the Nation—Volume 1. Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/615c1bee105b4f55a98326d0/t/691f27fd9b20664cbb2d97ec/1763649533269/CRER+SotN+2025+-+Volume+1.pdf
Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. (2021). The Report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities [The Sewell Report]. UK Government. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-report-of-the-commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities
Equality and Human Rights Commission. (2019). Tackling racial harassment: Universities challenged. EHRC. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/tackling-racial-harassment-universities-challenged
Liyanage, M. (n.d.). Mapping the history of anti-racist curriculum work in tertiary education. AdvanceHE. Retrieved https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-12/Anti-Racist%20Curriculum%20Timeline%20FINAL.pdf
Macpherson, W. (1999). The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: Report of an Inquiry by Sir William Macpherson of Cluny (Cm 4262-I). The Stationery Office. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277111/4262.pdf
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. (2021). Decolonising the Curriculum in the Time of Pandemic [Collaborative Cluster]. QAA Scotland. https://www.enhancementthemes.ac.uk/resilient-learning-communities/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/decolonising-the-curriculum-in-the-time-of-pandemic
Scottish Government. (2016). Race Equality Framework for Scotland 2016–2030. https://www.gov.scot/publications/race-equality-framework-scotland-2016-2030/
Scottish Government. (2018). Teaching in a diverse Scotland: Increasing and retaining minority ethnic teachers. https://www.gov.scot/publications/teaching-diverse-scotland-increasing-retaining-minority-ethnic-teachers/
Scottish Government. (2021). Teaching in a diverse Scotland: Increasing and retaining minority ethnic teachers — 3 years on. https://www.gov.scot/publications/teaching-diverse-scotland-increasing-retaining-minority-ethnic-teachers-3-years/
Global catalysts
BBC News. (2020, June 7). Bristol George Floyd protest: Colston statue toppled. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-52955868
Hill, E., Tiefenthäler, A., Triebert, C., Jordan, D., Willis, H., & Stein, R. (2020, May 31). How George Floyd was killed in police custody. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-investigation.html
South African History Online. (2015). University of Witwatersrand Student Protests 2015 Timeline. https://sahistory.org.za/article/university-witwatersrand-student-protests-2015-timeline
UCL Students. (2014). Why is My Curriculum White? [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dscx4h2l-Pk
Racist violence, deaths in custody and asylum seeker destitution
BBC News. (2020, November 23). Sheku Bayoh inquiry: Sister tells of racist abuse as inquiry resumes. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63717545
Brooks, L. (2020, August 25). Mercy Baguma: Woman found dead in Glasgow flat next to crying baby. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/25/mercy-baguma-woman-found-dead-glasgow-flat-next-to-crying-baby
Macpherson, W. (1999). The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (Cm 4262-I). The Stationery Office. [On the murder of Stephen Lawrence, Eltham, London, 22 April 1993]
Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry. (n.d.). https://www.shekubayohinquiry.scot/ [On the death of Sheku Bayoh, Kirkcaldy, Fife, 3 May 2015]