The Great Debaters was inspired by the true story of the debate team at Wiley College, an African-American college that was originally created in 1873 by the "Freedman's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Their goal was to help educate and prepare newly-freed slaves as they made the difficult transition into a new life.



Now, with that as a historical backdrop, you know "The Great Debaters" has got to be rich in history, import, meaning and cultural significance. And it is.



Professor Tolson (played by Denzel Washington) started coaching his now-famous debate team in 1929 and the movie is set in the year 1935, when 40 college kids would show up to audition for the four coveted spots on his team. If this movie were just another "academic cinderella story" it'd be interesting and entertaining but The Great Debaters is so much more than that.



Born and raised in southeastern Virginia, I know a little bit about what racism looked like in the 1960s. This movie gave me a keyhole peak at racism in the 1930s and it was something I'll not soon forget. The scene depicting Forest Whitaker's confrontation (over a lost pig) with two no-account white racists was very believable and powerful and it was equally memorable and disturbing.



Another scene that showed a lynching was probably the most haunting scene and yet witnessing that horrible event proved to be a catalyst for one of the debaters.



If you go online and do a little background reading, you'll learn that some artistic license was exercised in telling the story of The Great Debaters (for instance, in 1935, they won a debate against University of Southern California; they never debated Harvard). However, for the most part, the story is good and true and very worthwhile.



I don't buy a lot of DVDs but this is one movie I'd like to own. Powerful story and very well-told. And speaking as a history snob, the background details (the depiction of the 1930s time period) were also very well done and accurate.



And an important PS to this movie review: According to an article in the New York Times (published Dec. 5, 2007), Wiley College has been struggling for years to keep their doors open, and in recent years, that struggle has become even more severe. The article also states that Wiley has not had the financial wherewithal to sponsor a debate team for many years. Hopefully "The Great Debaters" will effect a sea-change in this historic college's financial fortunes.