Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A black councillor in Britain is facing a possible prison sentence after insulting a South Asian colleague

A black councillor who called an Asian colleague a ''coconut'' during a meeting is facing a possible prison sentence after being charged with racially aggravated harassment. Liberal Democrat Shirley Brown, 47, used the term to describe Jay Jethwa at a Bristol City Council budget debate in 2009. The jibe is used to accuse someone of betraying their native culture and pandering to white opinion - as the coconut is brown on the outside and white in the middle. Conservative Mrs Jethwa, 41, said she had not experienced such a severe insult since she came to Britain from India 24 years ago.

Related:

Race row over Bristol councillor "coconut" slur

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