University of Wisconsin Sorry for 'Blazing Saddles' Clip

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Posted: 12:12 PM Oct 12, 2008 University of Wisconsin Sorry for 'Blazing Saddles' Clip MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ The University of Wisconsin-Madison has apologized to a black student who during a class last year was shown a clip of the movie ``Blazing Saddles'' that features racial epithets. Reporter: AP

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ The University of Wisconsin-Madison has apologized to a black student who during a class last year was shown a clip of the movie ``Blazing Saddles'' that features racial epithets.

During a workshop for working professionals last year, an instructor showed a scene of the 1974 comedy in which blacks are shown working on a railroad. Whites call the workers racial epithets and an overseer orders them to sing like slaves.

The student complained and the school's Office of Equity and Diversity, which investigates racial discrimination, got involved.

That prompted an apology in March from the Department of Professional Development and Applied Studies, which offered the course. The apology was obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request.

Department official James Campbell says it was ``an insensitive error to use a video clip that included inflammatory and offensive language, and it will not happen again.''

He says the student was refunded the $230 cost of the workshop.

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Posted by: J Sypien Location: Woodbridge, VA on Jan 17, 2009 at 05:20 PM

BET (Black Entertainment Television) network regularly airs "Blazzing Saddles" as part of its heritage. It is a spoof to show how ridicules racicism is. That is a good thing! The school's Office of Equity and Diversity should have been investigated for proper credentials,or maybe they need a refresher course in real racism!!

Posted by: Mike Location: Edgar on Oct 14, 2008 at 12:47 AM

In this scene, the slaves tell the overseer that they don't know the words to the songs and trick the overseer into singing the songs himself. I hope this young man doesn't see any concert footage of Richard Pryor, who was one of the writers of Blazing Saddles, because he may need electroshock therapy if he hears Pryor's routines. It also seems as if the University and the writer of the article don't know anything about the movie, because it consistently portrays the black sheriff as the hero and makes all the whites seem like villains and simpletons.

Posted by: Buffalo Wing Location: Wausau on Oct 13, 2008 at 04:48 PM

Fernando Tatis

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