Bobad,

The professor first cited McGarth of Harlow. This is a classic example of him taking a quote to perverting it to mean something else.

What McGarth of Harlow actually said was:

"When I was growing up and where I was growing up, it was a word that might be used for any toddler. It's a pretty word, pity it's been twisted and used as a vehicle for racists, but that's how it goes. Maybe if white people started using it for their own children it could get rehabilitated"

In other words it had been used at one time but had become "twisted AND USED AS A VEHICLE FOR RACISTS BUT THAT'S HOW IT GOES"

McGrath acknowledged it as a racist slur. It certainly had when I was a child and it certainly had by 1968 when used by Enoch Powell. That is FORTY EIGHT years ago.

You yourself said it was taboo in the states by the late 30's well we were a little behind but by the 60's it was not a word to use.