The Great Debaters – the Movie

This is a movie produced by Oprah Winfrey, directed by Denzel Washington, staring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker.

It tells the story of the debate team of Wiley College, a small Texas “colored college,” that goes to beat the national champions at Harvard. Based loosely on a true story, we get a glimpse of the injustice inflicted on blacks in the 1930ies.

This is especially poignant at this time, when our nation is actually voting for president, and the choices are a white man and a black man.

The fact that this is even possible rests on the shoulders of generations and millions of hardworking, believing, righteous, honorable and faithful black people, standing up for their rights, dignity and hopes.

The movie uses the same formula we have seen in countless sports movies, like Cool Runnings, the story of a Jamaican bob sled team that actually makes it to the Winter Olympics. The formula works, and the story draws us in.

I highly recommend this movie.

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