Humza Yousaf has said the murder to George Floyd in the US forced Scotland to "hold a mirror to ourselves" and to tackle racism that still exists.
Taking to Twitter following trial of Derek Chauvin who was found guilty of killing Floyd in Minneapolis last year, the SNP Justice Secretary said this country needs to "confront institutional and structural racism".
The former police officer convicted with killing George Floyd could be sent to prison for decades, with the guilty verdicts being met with jubilation and sorrow across the US.
Chauvin's three-week trial ended swiftly with barely more than a day of jury deliberations, then just minutes for the verdicts to be read - guilty, guilty and guilty - and he was handcuffed and taken away to prison.
Hundreds of people poured into the streets of Minneapolis, the city where Floyd was killed, some running through traffic with banners.
His younger brother Philonise, speaking at a press conference, said: "Today, we are able to breathe again."
Following the verdict, Yousaf who has suffered some horrific racism during his time as an MSP said the conviction would allow Scotland, and the rest of the UK, to look at the racism that remains in society.
He tweeted: "The murder of George Floyd forced us to hold a mirror to ourselves and confront the institutional & structural racism that exists in our own society.
"Justice for the family of George Floyd is a relief but it does not absolve us of that responsibility."
