Local ban urged as NY curbs `N word'
02.03.2007
AUSTRALIAN governments have been urged to follow the lead of New York and ban the use of the word ``nigger''.
Aboriginal academic and activist Stephen Hagan welcomed yesterday the news that New York City Council had voted to ban ``nigger'', and called on the Queensland and federal governments to follow suit.
For the past seven years, Mr Hagan has waged a battle against the display of the word in the nickname of an Australian rugby league player, Edward Stanley ``Nigger'' Brown, on a prominent pavilion at the Toowoomba showground, west of Brisbane.
``This is a wake-up call to Australia and although we are an island continent, that does not isolate us from the rest of the world, particularly regarding social justice and discrimination,'' Mr Hagan said. ``It is just no longer acceptable for the word `nigger' to be on display at a Toowoomba sporting ground.
``The word is highly offensive. It is not a term of endearment and it never was a term of endearment. It has no place in a society which considers itself civilised.''
Mr Hagan, who has written a book titled The N Word and presented speeches throughout the US, is the current Aboriginal Person of the Year and is studying for a doctorate through Melbourne's Monash University.
American community leaders and lawmakers joined in declaring the word ``offensive in every context'' and said it was a word which should never be uttered.
The New York City resolution was sponsored by councillor Leroy Comrie, who said ``nigger'' was derived solely out of hate and anger and that its meaning could not be changed.
Mr Hagan complained to the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal last year over the Toowoomba Sports Ground Trust not removing the offensive word, but failed.
However, he could win by default. The Queensland Government and Toowoomba City Council plan to demolish the old stand and replace it with another which would not bear the name.
