Discrimination In The Film 'The Great Debaters' By Melvin Tolson
Dr. Elena Lattarulo
Eng 101
26 Aug 2010
Higher Education The Great Debaters brings viewers back to a time in American history where the discrimination between races was a very hot issue. The Great Debaters illustrated the black experience, by depicting the many challenges blacks were faced with in their daily struggles. In this film discrimination was a key element, and it was through debates that, the black community expressed their grievances indirectly in the 1930s. The Great Debaters is based on a true story. In Texas in 1935, Wiley College put together a debate team lead by Melvin Tolson. Tolson was a respected professor, but he had Communist political leanings which scared a lot of people. This being the South in the early part of the 20th century, racism was still rampant. Tolson was determined to put together a terrific debate team; one that could barnstorm the country, including white universities and showcase the black talent. After finding a foursome to lead the charge, Tolson has to lead them, not only to victory in debate, but to victory over the abject racism that …show more content…
Now, after seeing the movie, I can see why the film has received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture. The film, while focusing heavily on race relations in the South, and not as much on debating as one would think, it did so in a way that I was able to relate to both sides of the student's lives academic and personal. Scenes in the film were difficult to watch, it put me in the same emotional state as the characters feeling the same fear and shame. The film does not shy away from an honest look at the events that happened in the South in the 1930s. While these scenes take the focus off of the debating at times, they also help in the understanding of the characters and the feelings that go into their debate
Eng 101
26 Aug 2010
Higher Education The Great Debaters brings viewers back to a time in American history where the discrimination between races was a very hot issue. The Great Debaters illustrated the black experience, by depicting the many challenges blacks were faced with in their daily struggles. In this film discrimination was a key element, and it was through debates that, the black community expressed their grievances indirectly in the 1930s. The Great Debaters is based on a true story. In Texas in 1935, Wiley College put together a debate team lead by Melvin Tolson. Tolson was a respected professor, but he had Communist political leanings which scared a lot of people. This being the South in the early part of the 20th century, racism was still rampant. Tolson was determined to put together a terrific debate team; one that could barnstorm the country, including white universities and showcase the black talent. After finding a foursome to lead the charge, Tolson has to lead them, not only to victory in debate, but to victory over the abject racism that …show more content…
Now, after seeing the movie, I can see why the film has received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture. The film, while focusing heavily on race relations in the South, and not as much on debating as one would think, it did so in a way that I was able to relate to both sides of the student's lives academic and personal. Scenes in the film were difficult to watch, it put me in the same emotional state as the characters feeling the same fear and shame. The film does not shy away from an honest look at the events that happened in the South in the 1930s. While these scenes take the focus off of the debating at times, they also help in the understanding of the characters and the feelings that go into their debate