In Britain, 'reclaimed' racist slang causes a stir

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2004

LONDON (AFP) — On initial glance, the logo on the trendy clothing range looks like a cheap racist slur. But the British manufacturer -- of Pakistani origin -- says his "Pak1" range is simply reclaiming a word from the bigots.

The storm began in the eastern English town of Peterborough, where entrepreneur Abdul Rahim, whose father moved to Britain from Pakistan, launched a clothing line which he now plans to market nationwide.

Rahim admits that the "Pak1" brand is deliberately designed to resemble the word "paki", for many years the deeply insulting abuse word of choice for British racists to yell at people of any South Asian origin.

Pakistani community leaders in Peterborough have warned Rahim that he risks making such abuse acceptable if the logo becomes...