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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2002

A movie producer hoping to tell the story of an African-American man who coached a team of Navajo girls basketball stars nearly got run out of town.

Steve Burleigh asked for permission to shoot a cable movie on school district property in New Mexico. He also wanted to use the district's letterhead and a school bus.

But the district 4-0 voted no, citing the movie's profanity. And Norman Brown, a Navajo man, said the movie portrayed Navajos in a bad light.

"The story is about a black man who comes to save the community from themselves. Alcoholism, dysfunctional families, low self-esteem — these are classical stereotypes of Native American people," he said, according to the Associated Press.

Get the Story:
Shiprock District Rejects Helping Movie Production, Cites Foul Language (AP 10/18)
Alternate Link: Shiprock District Rejects Helping Movie Production, Cites Foul Language (AP 10/18)