Jan. 26, 2007, 1:40AM
Few see need for official ban on 'n-word'


By RICHARD STEWART
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

After facing intense opposition against a proposed ordinance that would have outlawed the use of the "n-word" in his town, Brazoria Mayor Ken Corley announced Thursday he would drop the proposal altogether.

Corley's decision brought applause from most of the 200 people who gathered in the middle of Main Street to discuss the issue.

The meeting was held outside Thursday because the town's council chamber is too small.

Though almost all speakers said they condemned the use of racial epithets, most said the Brazoria County town of 2,800 has few racial problems, and the proposed ordinance would cause more problems than it would cure.

"I'm embarrassed for my little town," said Bill Lott, who is white. "We need to unite, not divide."

The Rev. Melvin Johnson, who is black, said he thought it was wrong to single out one word.

A few speakers, however, liked the proposed ordinance.

The Rev. Ricky Jones, who is black, said that he approved of the measure.

"So many people are here tonight as proof that (this) is a problem," Jones said.

Corley, 62, said his proposal was a "quality of life issue," and not a censorship issue.

He said that though he doesn't think Brazoria has any more of a problem with the use of the offensive word than anywhere else, he wanted his town to take a progressive stance against its use.

Corley, who is white and grew up in Brazoria County, admitted to using the "n-word" in years past. "But never directed directly against a black person," he said.

Brazoria City Attorney Charlie Stevenson said he thought the proposed ordinance would be constitutional because it doesn't outlaw the "n-word" but outlaws its use in an offensive or aggressive manner. The word had to be used in such a way as to disturb the peace, he said.

A violation would have been a class C misdemeanor, the lowest category of offense, which is punishable by a fine up to $500, Stevenson said.

David Hudson, an attorney with the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., said the proposal clearly violates the First Amendment.

In 1971 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no individual words can be outlawed, he said.

"I was surprised to see that this was being proposed anywhere in the United States," he said.

"It sounds like something you would see in France."

Claude Foster, regional director of the NAACP in Houston, said that though he applauds the intention of the measure, he doesn't think it is the proper way to fight rac- ism.

"Education is the answer," Foster said.

Brazoria, one of the oldest towns in Southeast Texas, was founded in 1828.

According to the 2000 Census, about 10 percent of the population is black, about 11 percent is Hispanic and about 80 percent is white.
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