The Great Debaters

"An unjust law is no law at all." It would be very unjust to say this is a bad film. The Great Debaters, directed and starring Denzel Washington, falls just short of making my top ten list, but it is still very worthy of a 9/10. The underdog story of the Wiley College debate team shows sturggles blacks faced in the "Jim Crow" south. The discrimination and unjust laws degrading blacks was a daily routine in the 1930's. Mr. Tolson (Denzel Washington) plays the part of English professor at Wiley College, an all black school from Marshall, Texas. Tolson forms a debate team able to compete with any other debate team in the country. Eventually, Harvard accepts a challenge from Professor Tolson when they are undefeated. The debate team notices a major difference in the north compared to hte "Jim Crow" south.
The debate team consisted of four members, Henry Lowe (Nate Parker), Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett), James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker), and Hamilton Burgess (Jermaine Williams). When Professor Tolson's politcal ideology starts to be heard of, Hamilton's father forces Hamilton to quit the team. The team also faces many problems such as witnessing a lynching and many internal arguments.
There are so many things to take from this film. Big changes often must come one small, painful step at a time. Tolson and his team share a special bond and he has taught them to choose between fighting back and laying low. He also teaches them to swallow their pride for the greater goal. Secondly, The Great Debaters shows us the heart-wreching reality of the racial discriminating south during the 1930's. The significant lynching scene will leave you dazed and winded like you've been punch in the stomach. It reminds us again that this was a life and death struggle, and it required incredible courage to take a stand.