Duraunte Cutts
Assignment 1: The Great Debators
Due: 9/1

Were you familiar with the story of the Wiley College debate team? Why do you think their story
has not been told before?
o No
o The story was not published until recently because the lack of concern regarding the
situation.

At the start of the film, Professor Farmer reads to incoming freshmen from 1 Corinthians 13:11.
Why do you think he chose that verse? How did it apply to the students?
o He chose this verse because coming to college is the transformation from childhood into
adulthood and he was expressing the need for his students to make that transition.

Farmer also says “We do what we have to do, so that we can do what we want to do.” What do
you think that means? What things did the debate team “have to do"? What things did they gain
the right to do? How can you apply this to your own life?
o That means in order to enjoy everything out of life and to get the most out of life we must
first do what is necessary to enjoy those things.
o The debate team had to debate the best Negro colleges available in order to gain the right
to debate “Anglo-Saxon” colleges.
o I can apply this to my life the same way James Farmer Jr. applied it to his. In order to
participate in extracurricular activities one must first take care of his school work and
other necessities.

Which debate topic did you find most interesting? Did you side with the “pro” or the “con”
argument?
o The debate that I found the most interesting was when Henry Lowe brought up the
welfare issue and the look in a mother’s eyes when she is unable to feed her child. I
sided with the affirmative on this topic because my mother worked for the Department of
Family and Children Services and I saw firsthand the people welfare impacted.

Why do you think Tolson explained to his students the historical source of the word lynch? What
did that have to say about the power of words and their connection to real life?
o
I feel he told them about the historical source of the word because when one know where
something comes from it gives them a deeper connection to the word and has a greater
impact on the individual.

What themes and important messages did you find in the movie?
o The theme of racial equality

What did the members of the debate team have in common? What made them different? What
made them come together as a team?
o They all were passionate about learning, the differed in their backgrounds and
upbringing, and they came together as a team because they were all working for a greater
purpose rather than self gratification.

Professor Tolson pointed out to his students that many black people during this time were born
without birth certificates. What do you think it would be like if you were “born without record”?
o I feel like if one is born without record it is the equivalent to being nonexistent, in the
eyes of the government. Your birth wasn’t even important enough to count you as an
individual.

How did Professor Tolson’s involvement in the organization of the unions affect the debate team?
Was it fair? Should he have done anything differently?
o Due to Tolson’s involvement with the sharecroppers the debate team was basically
blacklisted and was unable to debate nationally recognized teams which was unfair-. I
don’t feel like he should have done anything differently because “My politics is my
business.”

Henry shared how he bounced in and out of school from time to time. What keeps students in
college? Why do you think some students do not stay to finish college? What are you doing to
make sure you stay on the path to graduation? What can you be doing to increase the likelihood
that you will finish?
o A strong support system keeps many students in college, some chose not to stay because
they lack the support system and for many others college isn’t for everyone. I am relying
on myself more than my support system because I feel as long as I believe in myself I can
do anything.