The Great Debater Reflection Paper
The Great Debaters is an inspiring 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. For all men are created equal.
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. As the movie opens, Dr. James Farmer (Forest Whitaker) one of the first black men to earn a Ph.D. He declares, “The most important job in America is the education of our young people.” Farmer tells an audience at Wiley College, in Marshall, Texas, that, “There will be difficulties. But we must defeat them.” He challenges his listeners, “They must do what they have to do in order to do what they want to do.” The film encourages the idea that “Education is the way out of ignorance and darkness into the glorious light.”
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. Professor Tolson sees their 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 assess their own limitations. Defeat becomes an opportunity by which we overcome new
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. As the movie opens, Dr. James Farmer (Forest Whitaker) one of the first black men to earn a Ph.D. He declares, “The most important job in America is the education of our young people.” Farmer tells an audience at Wiley College, in Marshall, Texas, that, “There will be difficulties. But we must defeat them.” He challenges his listeners, “They must do what they have to do in order to do what they want to do.” The film encourages the idea that “Education is the way out of ignorance and darkness into the glorious light.”
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. Professor Tolson sees their 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 assess their own limitations. Defeat becomes an opportunity by which we overcome new