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The Great Debaters

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Submitted By Liyah95
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Aaliyah Perry
The Great Debaters The Great Debaters is a true story of the Debate Team consisting of four students and their professor from Wiley College, in Marshall, Texas. As an all-black school, Wiley College during the 1930’s trained young minds to believe in themselves and to use their educated minds to change the hearts and minds of society, to establish peace, and maintain human dignity, tolerance and acceptance for all people. No matter the color of their skin, origin of their birth, language they speak, or their occupational role in society. The story of The Great Debaters takes place at a time in America’s history when things were starting to change for both Whites and African Americans. The moral call for freedom, equality, and justice for all was beginning to resonate throughout the country. The students, James Farmer, Jr who was only 14 years old, Henry Lowe, and Samantha Booke, learn to lead through civil discussions using their minds as weapons and not violence. Under the direction of English Professor Melvin B. Tolson, these three students become the Wiley College Debate Team of 1935-36. This film also shows an understanding of how Professor Tolson sees these students potential as individuals and as a team. Progress is made one victory at a time. Under the intense and encouraging guidance of Professor Tolson, the students learn to speak with clarity and confidence. They learn to evaluate their own limitations. Defeat becomes an opportunity by which they overcome new obstacles. The most important lesson informed by Tolson is the difference between our perceived enemies and our real challenges. The purpose of this essay is to explain the importance of standing up for rights, James Farmer Sr. incident with pig farmer, and lynching in black community; during the 1930’s the black community struggled with rights for justice, freedom, and equality.

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