African Americans In The Film 'The Great Debaters'
The Great Debaters is an intriguing film set in the 1930s about a professor that goes by the name of Melvin Tolson who teaches students from Wiley College, in Texas, the fundamentals of debating. During this day in age, if an African American didn’t “stay in their place” they would be ridiculed for such insane behavior. One can only imagine how difficult it must have been for them to get through a debate without caring if they had crossed the line on a touchy subject. But through it all this debate team became one of the most successful teams in America. They were undefeated after they won national championships over Harvard University. There were three main debaters in this film; two male and one female. The females name was Samantha Booke. In the film, …show more content…
Mr. Farmer Jr learned most of his teaching from his father before he joined the debate team. His trial and tribulations are stuck between him and his conscientious. Then we have Mr. Henry Lowe; a young man with his whole life ahead of him. At first he wasn’t interested in anything to deal with debate, but he is very easy to persuade. The Great Debaters has many important scenes that show what it was like to be an African American in the 1930 's. In the movie there are scenes that show whites and African Americans as thoroughly separated in both public and private settings. In this movie, race is an issue especially for the African Americans. There was scene in the movie where the main characters were driving late at night heading to reach the next town of the debate tournament. As they were on their way, they saw two black males hung up from a tree and lynched to death. On the bus scene with Samantha, a Wiley debate team member, the whites enjoy a front row seat while African Americans are forced to sit in the back; off the bus you see a bench labeled whites only, and in Wiley College you notice only African Americans. The separation by skin color
Resolving Conflict In 'Blood, Toil, Tears, And Sweat'
1563 Words | 7 Pages28 Apr. 2017. "Resolving Conflict: Courageous Communication. " Confederation College. N.p., 27 Sept. 2016. Web.
Similarities Between Scottsboro Trial And To Kill A Mockingbird
504 Words | 3 PagesThroughout the 1800s and early 1900s, racism was still a huge part in our society and this is demonstrated through the Scottsboro Trial and the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The first place this is shown, was after everybody heard about the supposed rape of the white girls. There were protests and tons of people showing hate towards the black men. Another example of this, was all the assumptions white people made, that the only logical explanation for the incident was that the black men raped the white girls. This assumption was without listening to the evidence or facts proving the man's innocence during the trial.
John Duffy's 'Virtuous Arguments' Reading Response
550 Words | 3 PagesSandra Fluke’s opinion over this matter has impacted many people and she has, by some means, persuaded numerous people to agree with her opinion on this argument. On the other hand, Limbaugh lost many advertisers and suffered a major loss on his radio talk show. Duffy states how important it is to know how to speak in well-manner style in an argument if you want to accurately get your message across. The author states that college students need to know how to act in a mature manner when having an argument about a certain topic. Duffy talks about how students should have the capability to understand that when confronting an argument there must be evidence to back up the argument.
Prom Night In Mississippi Film Analysis
618 Words | 3 PagesAs the rest of America evolved, breaking the unnecessary barriers of race, Charleston continued to maintain segregation. Interviews throughout the documentary reveal that it is not the students attending the high school who want their prom to be segregated, but their parents. The students see past race, while parents are unable to. One student
Little Rock Central High: 50 Years Later Analysis
1023 Words | 5 PagesLeaving last week’s class, my mind was darting in all sorts of directions. While the “Eyes on the Prize” excerpt gave me a concrete understanding of the historic events of the desegregation of Little Rock High School, “Little Rock Central High: 50 Years Later” brought up all sorts of observations and questions on race in America that I hadn’t necessarily thought to address before. I think these two films were particularly interesting to view back to back because of their difference in style, content, and execution. I have viewed many of the “Eyes on The Prize” segments in past classes and this segment, “Fighting Back”, continues to stand out to me. Through the use of first person interviews and real footage, the piece gave me, what felt like, a clear look
Essay On Blackface Minstrelsy
704 Words | 3 PagesWhere do we draw the lines between adoration and mockery, influence and appropriation, and individuality and stereotyping? Accordingly, the racial subject has always been a touchy topic to discuss, but with the lasting effects that the black minstrelsy has left in the society, we most definitely need to deal with the racial subject. Only this way can the American society move forward both as a nation and as a species, and through such efforts, only then can we ensure that such history can never repeat
African Americans In The 1920's
1236 Words | 5 PagesAfrican Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States.
Examples Of Heroism In The Great Debaters
844 Words | 4 PagesHowever, James Farmer Jr. did not let such stress wear down his determination and commitment to his team. He cast aside his emotions and stepped up to the plate when the team needed him most. He debated in Samantha’s stead and kept a positive attitude in the face of adversity. Although the debate at Howard University resulted in defeat, James Farmer Jr. maintained an optimistic attitude and never contemplated giving up. He found the strength to continue forward amongst times of conflict, demonstrating his outstanding character and
Ma Rainey Black Bottom Analysis
1559 Words | 7 PagesOne character accuses the other of something, to which he or she must immediately respond and defend himself or herself. The statements of each character are dependent on what the other characters have said before them; that is to say, most conversations between the African-American characters throughout the course of the play only occur due to some sort of accusation or inflammatory remark from another African-American
Injustice In The Great Debaters
1027 Words | 5 PagesThe “Great Debaters” is an inspirational drama based on the true story of the small, Texas, African-American Wiley college debate team. It was directed by Denzel Washington, produced by Oprah Winfrey and starred Washington and Forest Whitaker. The movie dramatically and visually addresses the cold reality of racism. It goes beyond its predictable plot though because the young debaters did not just argue about topics; they asserted themselves as human beings during the time of the harsh reality of Jim Crow laws in 1930’s America. This film successfully portrayed the social issue of racial separatism and injustice between the blacks and whites in the deep South of the Great Depression.
Analysis Of Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian By Sherman Alexie
1121 Words | 5 PagesThe decision to attend a white school is a tough one and Junior understands that for him to survive and to ensure that his background does not stop him from attaining his dreams; he must battle the stereotypes regardless of the consequences. In this light, race and stereotypes only makes junior stronger in the end as evident on how he struggles to override the race and stereotypical expectations from his time at the reservation to his time at Rearden. How race and stereotypes made
The Great Debaters Rhetorical Analysis
334 Words | 2 PagesWhen arguing for racial equality, James Farmer Jr. quotes St.Augustine, “An unjust law is no law at all.” He claims that just laws are meant to protect all citizens; whereas, unjust laws that discriminate Negroes are not laws to be followed, thus raising awareness of racial discrimination by using emotional and logical appeals. In The Great Debaters, Henry Lowe appeals to the audience’s emotions during a debate about Negro integration into state universities. To challenge his opponent’s claim that the South isn 't ready to integrate Negroes into universities, he affirms that if change wasn’t forcefully brought upon the South, Negroes would “still be in chains,” which is an allusion to slavery. With this point, he is able to raise awareness of
Ethos In The Great Debaters
1184 Words | 5 PagesMartin Luther King Jr., an African-American activist, once said, “It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.” In the Jim Crow South in the 1930s, the setting of the film The Great Debaters, directed by Denzel Washington in 2007, King’s words were particularly relevant. James Farmer Jr., the main character of the film, argues King’s point in the final debate about civil disobedience between Harvard and Wiley College. Although the Wiley debaters rely effectively on the strategy of ethos, the keys to their victory are the strategies pathos and logos.
Affirmative Action By Shelby Steele: Rhetorical Analysis
1199 Words | 5 PagesSteele begins addressing the issue by saying that “ By making black the color of preference, these mandates have re-burdened society with the very marriage of color and preference( in reverse) that we set out to eradicate.” In essence Shelby states that by allowing blacks to get a free privilege that whites do not have, the same issue that people were attempting to eradicate had just been reversed except this time in favor of African Americans. Shelby further explains that “ In integrated situations where blacks must compete with whites who may be better prepared, these explanations may quickly wear thin and expose the individual to racial as well as personal self doubt.” By using the example of college Shelby shows people that just because something is free does not mean it is beneficial in fact it may have the opposite effect it set out to achieve. At this point the audience has been made aware of a problem on several occasion and at this point in time Shelby begins to elaborate on the issue creating more intricate situations in which the free privilege will affect African Americans in the future.
African Americans In The 1950's
180 Words | 1 PagesIn the 1950s there were several laws that kept African American people separated from White Americans. African Americans were not allowed to do anything with White Americans or even be close to them. The White Americans were so harsh toward them that they established laws that said that African Americans could not vote, could not enter the same building of White Americans, they was not even allowed to drink out of the same water fountain. The people of the South were very strict to their beliefs and laws and if any African American was caught breaking any of the laws they were punished and sometimes killed. Some African Americans that were not familiar with the dangers of the south were few of the unfortunate ones to lose their life.
More about African Americans In The Film 'The Great Debaters'
Resolving Conflict In 'Blood, Toil, Tears, And Sweat'
1563 Words | 7 PagesSimilarities Between Scottsboro Trial And To Kill A Mockingbird
504 Words | 3 PagesJohn Duffy's 'Virtuous Arguments' Reading Response
550 Words | 3 PagesProm Night In Mississippi Film Analysis
618 Words | 3 PagesLittle Rock Central High: 50 Years Later Analysis
1023 Words | 5 PagesEssay On Blackface Minstrelsy
704 Words | 3 PagesAfrican Americans In The 1920's
1236 Words | 5 PagesExamples Of Heroism In The Great Debaters
844 Words | 4 PagesMa Rainey Black Bottom Analysis
1559 Words | 7 PagesInjustice In The Great Debaters
1027 Words | 5 PagesAnalysis Of Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian By Sherman Alexie
1121 Words | 5 PagesThe Great Debaters Rhetorical Analysis
334 Words | 2 PagesEthos In The Great Debaters
1184 Words | 5 PagesAffirmative Action By Shelby Steele: Rhetorical Analysis
1199 Words | 5 PagesAfrican Americans In The 1950's
180 Words | 1 Pages