A Gone With The Wind-themed summer ball at Cambridge University has been cancelled after accusations the film is racist and hides the horrors of slavery.
The Oscar-winning film, made in 1939 and starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, was criticised by students for the way it portrayed slavery and black people. Plans for the May ball, to be held at St Edmund's college, have now been shelved as a result.
Student Mamusu Kallon, who was born in Sierra Leone, told the Independent: "It's a film that glamorises the romantic dreams of a slave owner and a KKK member while rendering the horrors of slavery invisible.
"The black characters fulfil every derogatory racist stereotype of the 'slave' and black people continue to be subject to the modern-day versions of these stereotypes. Surely Cambridge University should not perpetuating this?"
The organising committee will instead hold a 'Journey through the Seasons' inspired ball in June, with tickets costing £129.
A college spokesman said: "The committee initially selected the theme of Gone With The Wind, but then changed it to 'Journey though the Seasons' after concern was expressed by some of our students.
"The college felt that it would have only been necessary for it to intervene formally if the matter had not been resolved satisfactorily. The college supports the change of theme and is proud of its record of friendliness and cordiality."
One film critic, writing for the Guardian, accused the film of "throwing a blanket over the history - over the very fact - of racism".
"It blithely accepts the legitimacy of owning humans like livestock," he continues. "Even its major black characters seem staunch in their defence of their own enslavement
In 1940, Hattie McDaniel, who played Mammy in the film, was the first black actress to win an Oscar, however was not even allowed to appear at the film's premiere in Atlanta. The next black actress to win the prestigious award was Whoopie Goldberg in 1990.
What the Oscars ceremony doesn't show, however, is McDaniel having to walk up to the podium from her table for two at the back of the room; the actress and her date were segregated from the rest of the room.
The Oscar-winning film, made in 1939 and starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, was criticised by students for the way it portrayed slavery and black people. Plans for the May ball, to be held at St Edmund's college, have now been shelved as a result.
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Student Mamusu Kallon, who was born in Sierra Leone, told the Independent: "It's a film that glamorises the romantic dreams of a slave owner and a KKK member while rendering the horrors of slavery invisible.
"The black characters fulfil every derogatory racist stereotype of the 'slave' and black people continue to be subject to the modern-day versions of these stereotypes. Surely Cambridge University should not perpetuating this?"
The organising committee will instead hold a 'Journey through the Seasons' inspired ball in June, with tickets costing £129.
A college spokesman said: "The committee initially selected the theme of Gone With The Wind, but then changed it to 'Journey though the Seasons' after concern was expressed by some of our students.
"The college felt that it would have only been necessary for it to intervene formally if the matter had not been resolved satisfactorily. The college supports the change of theme and is proud of its record of friendliness and cordiality."
One film critic, writing for the Guardian, accused the film of "throwing a blanket over the history - over the very fact - of racism".
"It blithely accepts the legitimacy of owning humans like livestock," he continues. "Even its major black characters seem staunch in their defence of their own enslavement
In 1940, Hattie McDaniel, who played Mammy in the film, was the first black actress to win an Oscar, however was not even allowed to appear at the film's premiere in Atlanta. The next black actress to win the prestigious award was Whoopie Goldberg in 1990.
What the Oscars ceremony doesn't show, however, is McDaniel having to walk up to the podium from her table for two at the back of the room; the actress and her date were segregated from the rest of the room.