A Glasgow teacher’s casual rant about rainy weather has sparked an unlikely viral trend, leading to millions of views and opening conversations about race, diaspora, and cultural identity, as reported by the Guardian. What began as a relatable Scottish moan has turned into a global dialogue between Black Scots and African Americans, reshaping perceptions on both sides of the Atlantic.
Viral Post Goes Global
Torgi Squire, a 43-year-old high school teacher from Glasgow, posted a light-hearted TikTok last week, questioning why the Scottish summer always improves as soon as children return to school. Signing off with his cheerful line, “a better day,” Squire expected nothing unusual. Instead, his video caught the eye of a US weather reporter and quickly exploded, gathering nearly 4 million views and over 200,000 new followers.
Americans React with Surprise
African American viewers flooded the comments, expressing their astonishment and joy at hearing a Black man with a thick Scottish accent. “It’s been a whirlwind,” said Squire, who teaches design and technology. Many Americans, whose references for Scotland rarely go beyond Braveheart, Braveheart, or Shrek, were fascinated by the discovery of Black Scots. Even within the UK, people expressed surprise, showing that the lack of awareness is not confined to the United States.
Scotland’s Growing Diversity
Reflecting on his own youth, Squire recalled: “Of the 1,400 kids at my secondary school, only four were black and three of them were related to me.” Today, Scotland is far more diverse. While racism still exists, he believes it is often isolated and widely challenged. “Perhaps because there are far fewer black people than somewhere like America, we tend to treat each other more like a community,” he explained.
TikTok Becomes a Platform
Ellie Koepplinger, a 28-year-old TikTok creator who discusses race and politics, quickly joined the conversation. “This is going to be huge,” she thought when Squire’s video gained traction. Having lived in both Scotland and the US, she noted: “It feels like finally people are understanding that we have our own racial politics.” Koepplinger also highlighted a practical edge: “Trump has made America so hostile to black people that having so many people talking about their positive experience in Scotland has got a huge amount of interest from people who are really keen to leave the States.”
Black Scots Share Stories
The viral moment also encouraged more Scots to share their experiences. “It’s been really interesting to hear other Scottish people talk about the racism and the challenges they’ve experienced,” Koepplinger said, pointing out that Scotland’s Black community, though small, is eager to connect and grow.
Young Creators Find Fame
For 20-year-old student Manny Daphey, the TikTok algorithm amplified his posts, quickly doubling his following. “I was pretty blown by surprise, suddenly everyone was interacting and it felt like speaking to my long-lost cousins,” he said. While a few negative remarks appeared, they were overshadowed by positivity and curiosity from Americans interested in visiting Scotland, and some women openly admiring Scottish accents.
US Comedian Joins In
American comedian Roy Wood Jr, currently in Edinburgh for the festival, joined the trend, meeting Black Scots to document their experiences for his US audience. “People can laugh about dumb Americans not knowing there are black people in Scotland, but this tells us a lot about the differences between education systems and what governments define as history,” he explained. Wood also emphasized the sense of connection emerging online: “There’s no black neighbourhood, no exclusive cultural enclave for black people in Scotland, so there was a common feeling of ‘now we’ve found each other’.”
Diaspora Conversations Expand
Wood eventually collaborated with Squire in Glasgow, creating joint content that celebrated shared identity across continents. For Squire, the experience has been life-changing: “The conversations I’ve had in the past week have really enriched my life. It makes me happy that people are coming together.”