The Great Debaters
The Great Debaters
Produced by: Harpo Films
Directed by: Denzel Washington
Starring: Denzel Washington, Forrest Whittaker, Jurnee Smollet, Nate Parker, Denzel Whitaker
Synopsis: A drama based on a true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. Set in 1935, Tolson inspired students to form to form the school’s first debate team, which went on to compete and win against Harvard University.
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Saw this film last night, and all I can say is WOW! The theater was packed full of people old and young, white and black.
This was a well written script, and phenomenal acting. Jurnee Smollett put her foot into it!!
I think outside of the acting, and watching Denzel’s brilliance, was just the history that effected me. To realize that this was only 70 years ago. Not even a full lifetime. How far we have come, and how far we still have left to go.
To see a black film that is about intellect, youth, history, discovery, is inspiring. We have so FEW of these types of films in black entertainment, it really makes you question WHY??
So many historical figures out there. Our culture is steeped with rich history and we do movies like Soul Plane?? WTF?
Anywhoo, I digress.
Jurnee does this monologue when they had to debate Oklahama College, and it was frikkin HAWT! The passion, the words, the history, the time, the segregation, the racism. This time, this age, our leaders, right now in 2008. We as a black community, still have so many strides left to take, and I feel like we have digressed. Our people have fought so hard for us to rise up and prove that we are just as good, just as meaningful, as any other. But then I listen to some of our entertainers, the people that our black youth are looking up to today, and I am saddened. It’s time to step up people. Rise up. BE the dream that our ancestors wanted us to be, that they died for us to be.
In the words of Samantha Booke….
“The time for justice, is always, is ALWAYS, right NOW”
JENAE ANDREWS said,
June 15, 2008 at 6:46 pm
HI , REALLY THIS WAS AN AMAZING STORY HOW A SMALL TEXAS COLLEGE COMPETED AGAINIST HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND WON UNDEFEATE D 10 YEARS IN A ROW.ALSO, THAT ALL OF THIS WAS A TRUE STORY.I COME TO BELIEVE WITH YOU ON HOW FAR WE’VE COM EBUT HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD.ALSO, THYAT A 14 YEAR OLD BOY WENT TO COLLEGE AND MADE THE FINAL POIN TIN HIS ARGUMENT AGAINIST HARVARD;ALL HE NEEDEE WAS FAITH!