Prof Who Played Pimp Film to Resume Teaching
A law professor who went on leave after he showed a controversial film clip to students from the documentary Really Really Pimpin’ in Da South will return to teaching this spring at the University of Connecticut law school.
Robert Birmingham will teach three classes, including law and philosophy, but he has been dumped as the instructor for a feminist legal theory class, the Connecticut Law Tribune reports.
Some students were offended when Birmingham hit the pause button as the prostitution film focused on a woman in a G-string. He also raised eyebrows when he asked students to argue whether slavery reparations are warranted in light of poor conditions in Africa, including war, famine and AIDS.
Supporters say the point of the Pimpin’ film was to draw parallels between the oppression of slaves and present day African-Americans.
Dean Jeremy Paul sent an e-mail to students saying he wants to foster a learning environment where controversial views can be expressed, but he also does not want students to feel unwelcome because of their their race or gender.
