Who did Wiley College debate?
Leonard Farmer, had been a Bible professor on the faculty since 1933. Although young James Farmer was only fourteen, he was recruited immediately by English professor and debate coach Melvin Tolson for the college’s formidable debate team.
Who were the original Great debaters?
Three of the four debaters were fictional. The film’s writers took half of the names of authentic debaters and changed their last names. Hamilton Boswell became “Hamilton Burgess,” complete with the use of Boswell’s nickname, “Ham.” Henry Height became “Henry Lowe.” There was no woman on the team in 1935.
What was the first all white college that the team debated?
In 1935, TCU Forensics became the first all-white debate team from a university in the South to host historically black Wiley College on its campus.
Who are the 3 main characters in The Great Debaters?
The Great Debaters (2007)
- Nate Parker as Henry Lowe.
- Jurnee Smollett as Samantha Booke.
- Jermaine Williams as Hamilton Burgess.
- Denzel Washington as Melvin Tolson.
Who are the characters in The Great Debaters?
Melvin B. TolsonDenzel WashingtonSamantha BookeJurnee SmollettHenry LoweNate ParkerHamilton BurgessJermaine WilliamsDr. James Farmer Sr.Forest WhitakerJames Farmer Jr.Denzel Whitaker
The Great Debaters/Characters
Who are the characters of The Great Debaters?
Is The Great Debaters movie a true story?
Denzel Washington directs and stars in “The Great Debaters,” the movie based on that true story, which comes to theaters Christmas Day. Washington plays the team’s coach, the invincible Professor Melvin Tolson.
Who are the 4 main characters in The Great Debaters?
He decides on four students: Hamilton Burgess (Jermaine Williams); the well-read but undisciplined Henry Lowe (Nate Parker); the first woman to join the team, Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett); and the fourteen-year-old James Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker).
Who is the youngest member on the debate team *?
Terms in this set (14)
- Melvin B. Tolson.
- Henry Heights. He anchored the debate team that defeated the national champions from USC.
- Henrietta Wells. Joined Wiley’s debate team in 1930.
- James Farmer. The youngest member of the debate team (age 14).
- Segregation.
- Proposition.
- Affirmative Argument.
- Denigrate.
Is The Great Debaters a real story?
“The Great Debaters” honors the real-life story of a 1930’s black debating team. LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12, 2007— — From deep in the color-divided South of 1930s East Texas, a generally unknown story of triumph by a black debating team from Wiley College emerges on the national stage this holiday season.
Who was Samantha Booke based on?
The character Samantha Booke in the 2007 movie, The Great Debaters, played by Jurnee Smollett, was loosely based on Wells. Wells stated that she had told Denzel Washington, who directed the film, to also play her team’s coach, Melvin B. Tolson, in the film.
Who were the Great Debaters at Wiley College?
2 of 5 A Wiley College yearbook shows debate team member Henrietta Wells, coach Melvin B. Tolson, center, and team member J.E. Hines. In 1935, a debate team from the Texas school beat the national champions from the University of Southern California, now depicted in the film The Great Debaters.
Who were the Great Debaters in 1935?
In 1935, a debate team from the Texas school beat the national champions from the University of Southern California, now depicted in the film The Great Debaters. less. A Wiley College yearbook shows debate team member Henrietta Wells, coach Melvin B. Tolson, center, and team member J.E. Hines.
What college did Denzel Washington debate at?
In 1935, the Wiley College debate team defeated the reigning national debate champion, the University of Southern California (depicted as Harvard University in The Great Debaters). In 2007, Denzel Washington announced a donation of $1 million to Wiley so the team could be re-established.
What was the first debate team to win the National Championship?
Debate team. In 1935, the Wiley College debate team defeated the reigning national debate champion, the University of Southern California (depicted as Harvard University in The Great Debaters ).