THE BBC often makes mistakes and is regularly accused of excessive political correctness. But the broadcaster is absolutely right to dismiss Carol Thatcher over her off-air use of the word 'golliwog'.
The fact that she said it in a 'private conversation' and 'in jest' makes absolutely no difference and her refusal to apologise for using the word or recognise its offensive nature is frankly bizarre.
I am quite sure that a large number of Britain's licence-fee payers would prefer not to pay Thatcher's fee for presenting segments on the One Show...or for the car that picks up Carol Thatcher and takes her to the studio...or for the pastries she eats in the BBC green room where she caused such offence.
Growing up in Croydon in the 1980's I remember very clearly the term 'wog' and 'golliwog' being used in my school and neighbourhood. It was often used by the same people who thought the words 'paki', 'nigger', 'coon' and 'darkie' were acceptable ways to describe non-white people.
Within my earshot 'wog' was never used as a compliment or by someone seeking to point out the likeness of a person to the Robertson's jam mascot. The West Indian family that lived three doors away from me were no strangers to these slurs, whilst the three or four other black pupils in my school would, to this day, be able to recount several times when they were called a 'wog' or 'nigger'.
For members of my parents' generation these words caused far more damage than they do today. When they emigrated here from east Africa in the early 1970's these words were shouted at them on the street and followed them to their place of employment. Thankfully they are no longer deemed acceptable in today's workplaces, which is why it is absolutely right that Thatcher has been ditched.
We know Carol Thatcher is from an educated family. Both her parents had the money and influence to give their daughter an education that was second to none. She must have studied slavery at some point and the horrible stereotypes that were created, which led to the 'golliwog', people performing in 'blackface' and 'the minstrel shows'. Surely she must know that the 'golliwog' was created as a grotesque looking character with big clown lips, jet black skin and wild frizzy hair, exaggerating features that were deemed as 'inferior' at the time.
Even in London, there are still people who see nothing wrong in what Thatcher said, or dismiss it as a faux pas. Unlike me, they never had the word 'paki' etched on the letterbox of their front door, or can recall an evening when their whole family were called 'wogs' by a group of drunks coming out of a pub.
But I am glad that Britain is moving on, despite the odd reminder. Prince Harry, at least, apologised for calling a fellow soldier a 'paki' and In 2004, the football commentator Ron Atkinson resigned and apologised when he used the word 'nigger'. Carol Thatcher has shown herself to be less enlightened.
