The N Word

by Stephen Hagan

An uncompromising insight into Indigenous politics. Academic and political advocate, Stephen Hagan, went all the way to the United Nations with his battle to remove the word ‘Nigger’ from a sign at a Queensland sports ground. The N Word exposes the passion and courage of the man behind the public face and reveals how a childhood growing up in a fringe camp on the outskirts of Cunnamulla in south-west Queensland fired his detrmination to fight for human rights.

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Stephen Hagan is a descendant of the Kullilli people of south-west Queensland. Born in 1959, his early years were spent living in a fringe camp on the outskirts of Cunnamulla. When he was seven, Stephen's father moved his family into their brand new house in town; a defining point in Stephen's life as he became conscious of the huge socio-economic gaps between Aboriginal kids and white kids.

Stephen's achievements in high school saw him go to Marist College Ashgrove, a private boarding school in Brisbane, where he stood proud as one of only a few Aboriginal students. In 1979 he took up teacher training but disillusioned with being forced to teach racist government-approved texts, Stephen made a career move. In Canberra he worked with various Indigenous organisations under charismatic leader Charles Perkins, who left an indelible impression on him. Stephen later moved to the Department of Foreign Affairs where he was posted as a diplomat to Colombo. Returning to Australia he worked in various public service roles as well as venturing into cultural tourism in the private sector.

Stephen represented his people at several international forums in India and the West Indies. He turned twenty one in Bombay and had the good fortune of spending time with Mother Theresa in Calcutta working among the destitute.

Stephen has become known in recent years as a commentator on race relations and for his relentless legal battle to remove the word 'Nigger' from a sign at a sportsground in the Queensland town of Toowoomba and to change the brand name of Coon Cheese. In September 2005 he received the DeadlyAward at the Opera House, Sydney for Outstanding Achievement in Literature for his published non-fiction book - The N Word, One Man's Stand.

He is married with two children and is currently an academic at the University of Southern Queensland, where he is also studying for his PhD.