A Newbie Question

[Gibtron]

. Be prepared, though, that you might get members of the public who will ask if you're Scottish, and act disappointed if you say no (some people are really into the "romance" of it all). It happens to everyone.

Enjoy the freedom and the comfort of the kilt. I have often heard in my travels "great kilt, I love a Scotsman" then I say thank you in my very western US drawl and they get confused.

[Jock Scot]

What a good question, well done! The problem is that experience tells me this is a very difficult question to answer on a website that has few members that are Scots without causing a riot. It is a can of worms that is dangerous to go anywhere near. However you deserve an answer.

One thing for sure, it is not a question of skin colour that causes the angst here, it is much narrower than that, it is all to do with a question of Scots wearing the kilt, or not and what the definition of a Scot is. Many Scots(not all) do not consider a Latvian in Latvia, for example, with Scots blood running through their veins from a couple of generations back as Scots, he/she is a Latvian as far as many(most?) Scots are concerned. A tricky point of view on a mainly international website! Nevertheless it is a current and valid point of view as far as some------quite a lot in my experience----Scots are concerned.

You have been upfront and claim no Scots connection and thats one complication you don't have! You have asked in an educated way that shows awareness and respect and I for one appreciate that, thank you. So what to do?

A few suggestions, how about a non Clan tartan kilt? A non Scottish connection tartan? A non tartan kilt such as tweed? There are more than a few choices there, that will get you clad in the kilt without treading on any major sensibilities whatsoever.

You may find a couple of old threads of mine that you may find illuminating. They should not be regarded as gospel, but they do clearly illustrate that some Scots have a very different way of thinking about the kilt than the rest of the world. Does it matter? That is entirely your choice.

Anyway, to find the suggested reading titled "Food for Thought" and "Food for Thought2(FFT2)", click on Jock Scot above my avatar and you will be able to find amongst all sorts of things(left hand side) "old threads" of mine, click on that and quite a way back you will find the suggested titles.

[Bluethunder90]

You will find kilted gentlemen of every race, creed, color and country of origin. Just look to the many regiments of the Commonwealth countries who wear the kilt and those who just like it. Welcome to the rabble. And wear it with pride - well, just as soon as you get one, which you will. Followed by 2, 3, .....

I thought that was case, but I thought I'd be sure. I look forward to getting sucked in.....

[Bluethunder90]

You've had a lot of great responses so far. I'll add that I wouldn't necessarily expect your skin color to dictate what your heritage and ancestry might be. I know plenty of darker-skinned people, of all races and ethnicities, with some ancestors Caucasian, and just because you might not guess by looking at them doesn't mean it isn't so. Anyone who wants to ASSume... well...

It probably mostly depends on who you meet. Some won't mind you wearing a kilt if not Scottish. Some will not mind as long as you wear non-clan tartans (and I'm surprised no one has suggested the XMarks tartan to you yet!). And some will be offended that you would dare wear a kilt. Be prepared, though, that you might get members of the public who will ask if you're Scottish, and act disappointed if you say no (some people are really into the "romance" of it all). It happens to everyone.

You are absolutely dead on with regard to not really knowing a person's ancestors just by looking at them; It's fairly obvious that a couple of my ancestors were Caucasian, with really strong evidence that at least one of them was only a couple generations back, so again, you're spot on.
I'm glad you mentioned the XMarks tartan, because I was wondering about a good kilt to start with. I will definitely look it up. Thank you

[Bluethunder90]

Fair Winds and Following Seas.

The Celtic Croft has a US Navy Tartan and Clan Badge. You might want to check them out.

Another great starting point! Thank you!

[Bluethunder90]

What a good question, well done! The problem is that experience tells me this is a very difficult question to answer on a website that has few members that are Scots without causing a riot. It is a can of worms that is dangerous to go anywhere near. However you deserve an answer.

One thing for sure, it is not a question of skin colour that causes the angst here, it is much narrower than that, it is all to do with a question of Scots wearing the kilt, or not and what the definition of a Scot is. Many Scots(not all) do not consider a Latvian in Latvia, for example, with Scots blood running through their veins from a couple of generations back as Scots, he/she is a Latvian as far as many(most?) Scots are concerned. A tricky point of view on a mainly international website! Nevertheless it is a current and valid point of view as far as some------quite a lot in my experience----Scots are concerned.

You have been upfront and claim no Scots connection and thats one complication you don't have! You have asked in an educated way that shows awareness and respect and I for one appreciate that, thank you. So what to do?

A few suggestions, how about a non Clan tartan kilt? A non Scottish connection tartan? A non tartan kilt such as tweed? There are more than a few choices there, that will get you clad in the kilt without treading on any major sensibilities whatsoever.

You may find a couple of old threads of mine that you may find illuminating. They should not be regarded as gospel, but they do clearly illustrate that some Scots have a very different way of thinking about the kilt than the rest of the world. Does it matter? That is entirely your choice.

Anyway, to find the suggested reading titled "Food for Thought" and "Food for Thought2(FFT2)", click on Jock Scot above my avatar and you will be able to find amongst all sorts of things(left hand side) "old threads" of mine, click on that and quite a way back you will find the suggested titles.

Thank you Jock. Not treading on anyone's sensibilities, learning as much as I can, and enjoying the entire experience, are my major goals. I will indeed look through your suggested list, and sit down and do some reading.

[Thekiltedmohawk]

The kilt knows no bounds. It will accept anyone regardless of their genders, their skin colors, their body shapes, and their hair styles.

I started wearing a kilt 5 months ago, and didn't regret every bit of it. My first tartan was the American Heritage considers I'm a proud American. I've ran into the sea of the positive comments, thumb ups, hand shakes, and etc. To be honest in 5 months there was only one negative reaction which I ignored him.

If you google right now for the "black men in kilts" you are going to see a lot of great pictures. They sure look handsome in the kilts.

Oh, from Colorado. Good luck in your journey for your first kilt!

[Jock Scot]

Thank you Jock. Not treading on anyone's sensibilities, learning as much as I can, and enjoying the entire experience, are my major goals. I will indeed look through your suggested list, and sit down and do some reading.

My pleasure my dear chap, I hope that you learn as much as you need before you decide. Whatever that might be, you will at least know the facts from many points of view, not just the one that often and understandably prevails on this website.

[OC Richard]

At some of our local gatherings the only guy who is Scottish-born, is a black guy. HE more than any of us Americans has "the right to wear the kilt" if indeed such a "right" has ever existed.

Here's a battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. As you can see it mirrors the multi-ethnic nature of Scotland itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueRQEpDda4c

[ctbuchanan]

In North America and Caribbean there was significant intermingling between Scots and other ethnic groups. Plantation owners in the islands and in the South are just one example. Many Scots in the Appalachians married Native Americans as well.

As for the slave owners, I have several friends who have Scottish blood in this way and have researched, explored and embraced this part of their heritage in spite of what we would consider a involuntary start.

History can be a messy business.