THE GREAT DEBATERS

ABOUT
BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF WORDS

From two time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and an ensemble cast lead by Washington that
includes Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, comes THE GREAT DEBATERS.
Inspired by a true story, THE GREAT DEBATERS chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel
Washington), a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog
students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial
figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and
teaching methods as well as his radical political views. In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson´s debate Harvard
University´s championship team.

This essay examines filmic narratives producing African American identity, empowerment, discipline and inspiration, as
presented in Denzel Washington’s "The Great Debaters" (2007). The film is based on the life of educator/poet Melvin B.
Tolson, who organized nationally renowned debate teams at Wiley College, an HBCU located in Marshall, Texas.
Although the film depicts the struggles and accomplishments of historical figures such as Tolson, future civil rights
leader James Farmer, and others who embody real life struggles against racism, social injustice and class divisions
within the Black community during the 1930s, the film relies heavily on narratives crystallizing Black consciousness and
nationalist sentiment couched in late-20th century rhetoric and reality.
The question is why Denzel Washington inserted the myth of “Willie Lynch” (purported to be a slavemaster who advised
other slaveholders on how to divide and conquer enslaved Blacks) at a crucial moment in the movie. The issue is not
whether Willie Lynch was a real historical figure, but whether Denzel’s dramatic license serves its intended purpose: to
create a compelling model of Black efforts to elevate their mental prowess while countering society’s focus on the
physical presence of Black bodies. The cathartic moment is designed to inspire Black students to refine their academic
skills, as well as to develop a new Black subjectivity that is not defined by white assumptions of Black inferiority. By
implication, Denzel’s narrative suggests that Black students of the 21st century are still plagued by pre-Civil War
mythological pathologies orchestrated by white America today.

mental prowess
or
mental debility

debility
late 15c., from M.Fr. debilite (Mod.Fr. débilité) or directly from L. debilitatem (nom. debilitas) "a laming,
crippling, weakening," from debilis "lame, disabled, crippled," figuratively "weak, helpless," from de- "from,
away" (see de-) + -bilis "strength,"
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
"My Opponent Does Not Exist"

I have had numerous hits on my blog for the review of "The Great Debaters". Interestingly, many of the hits are from
Google searches that include the phrase that serves as title of this post. My guess is that those searching for that
phrase are curious about the meaning of that phrase. This phrase is from the motto of the debaters which I post below
to the best of my recollection.

Denzel:"Who is the judge?"

His debaters in Unison: "God is the judge."
Denzel:"Why is God the judge?"
Debaters:"Because God decides who's right and wrong, not my opponent."
Denzel:" Who is your opponent?"
Debaters: "My opponent does not exist."
Denzel: "Why do your opponents not exist?"
Debaters: "Because our opponent is merely a voice dissenting from the truth I speak."
Denzel: "Speak the truth."

Though I am not sure what Melvin Tolson meant by this phrase I want to briefly discuss my own thoughts about it. First,
the only voice that matters is that of the truth. While one may dissent from the truth, their opinion is ultimately
inconsequential. From an existential or ontological perspective there is a shade of truth to the saying that one's
opponent does not exist. Their ultimate destiny will be something less than human, something sub-human. I think a
good illustration of their ultimate fate would be the genetic mutants on "I Am Legend". Ontologically, those who reject
Jesus Christ will become an object that, while sad, is unworthy of our pity.
We tend to forget that the idea of personhood was developed by the Patristic Fathers from their understanding of the
Trinity, not the other way around. One is only fully human in Jesus Christ and I believe that those who ultimately find
themselves outside of Christ will further devolve until they cease to bear the image of their creator. Anyhow, that's my
opinion for what it is worth. Be blessed.
Posted by Russell Roberts

My wife and I had the opportunity to watch Denzel Washington’s new movie this week entitled; The Great Debaters.
This movie is inspired by a true story and highlights a small Historically Black College in Texas; Wiley
College’s Debate Team. Denzel directed the movie and co-stared with Forrest Whittaker.
I won’t go into all the details of the movie, if you want to check it out you can visit the site here. As you know, I always
enjoy good quotes and this movie had many good ones. I want to share a quote/exchange that Denzel would have his
debate students repeat aloud; prior to initially preparing for debates. Here it is:
• Who is the Judge?
• The judge is God!
• Why is it God?
• Because HE decides who wins or looses, not my opponent.
• Who is your opponent?
• He doesn’t exist.
• Why doesn’t he exist?
• He is merely a dissenting voice to the truth I speak.
• Speak the truth!
That quote really caught my attention. God decides who wins or looses period; not my opponent in any situation, not
even Punk Satan! The Truth……!
What do you think about the quote? What and Who are the descending voices to “The Truth” HE speaks
through you?

James Farmer Jr.: We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do.

Share this quote
James Farmer Jr.: In Texas they lynch Negroes. My teammates and I saw a man strung up by his neck and set on fire.
We drove through a lynch mob, pressed our faces against the floorboard. I looked at my teammates. I saw the fear in
their eyes and, worse, the shame. What was this Negro's crime that he should be hung without trial in a dark forest filled
with fog. Was he a thief? Was he a killer? Or just a Negro? Was he a sharecropper? A preacher? Were his children
waiting up for him? And who are we to just lie there and do nothing. No matter what he did, the mob was the criminal.
But the law did nothing. Just left us wondering, "Why?" My opponent says nothing that erodes the rule of law can be
moral. But there is no rule of law in the Jim Crow south. Not when Negroes are denied housing. Turned away from
schools, hospitals. And not when we are lynched. St Augustine said, "An unjust law in no law at all.' Which means I
have a right, even a duty to resist. With violence or civil disobedience. You should pray I choose the latter.