You have commented 338 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Britain
Linlithgow campaigners fight against renaming of Black Bitch
2022-01-24
[Guardian] No visitor to Linlithgow can miss the prominent lettering across the gable end of the 17th-century tavern at the top of the high street: Black Bitch.

"There will be people who are offended and they have a right to their opinion," said Alistair Old. He is leading an energetic campaign to retain the pub’s name after its owner, Greene King, announced last month it would be rebranded as the Black Hound in line with its diversity policy. "But the people of Linlithgow wouldn’t have tolerated it if the name had racist connotations," Old added.

Local people are by no means oblivious to the force of these words, and most tell of incidents with visitors to the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots where some hasty explanation has been required.

Legend has it that a black female greyhound would swim across Linlithgow loch to bring food to her master, who was sentenced to starve to death on an island. The town and its residents are steeped in the tale, which dates back to the 13th century. Children learn about loyalty at primary school, the faithful dog is on Linlithgow’s coat of arms and those who were born there are proud to use the moniker.

Into this local context comes Greene King, the UK’s biggest pub owner, a company that has publicly apologised for its founder’s links to transatlantic slavery and has already changed the names of two pubs called the Black Boy, as well as another called the Black’s Head. It also runs an award-winning diversity strategy titled Calling Time on Racism.
Posted by:Besoeker

#2  We should just offer all the officiously guilt-ridden euthanasia.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-01-24 05:49  

#1  There's a Ho's in Glasgow. Just saying...

Posted by: Dron66046   2022-01-24 05:43  

00:00