[birds chirping]
¶ ¶ [music playing]
¶ ¶ [singing]
Heavenly Father, we come before Thee...
knee bend, body bowed... in the humblest way that we know how.
Father who controls, and knows all things...
both the living... and dying of all creatures.
Give us the strength, and the wisdom, to do thy work.
In God's name we pray, let all God's people say.
Amen.
¶ ¶ [singing and music continues]
When I was slippin' up, she looked down, saw the head of something...
was right there in her hands.
- She told me, was some wild animal. - I say then, it was God's revenge.
- You go heathen, Henry. - Know what I've got here?
- What? - Something very wild
When I was a child, I space as a child.
I understood as a child.
I thought as a child.
But when I became a man... I put away all childish things.
¶ ¶ [singing and music continues]
Freshman Class,
I believe we are the most privileged people in America.
Because we have the most important job...
in America.
- The education of our young people. - [singing and music continues]
- Trudell! - Who the hell is he?
Nah... just my husband.
I'm gonna cut your head off.
We must impress, upon our young people.
That there will be difficulties, that they face.
[indistinct chatter]
- You're scared, ain't you, ha? - You do raise, as twice my size?
They must defeat them.
They must do, what they have to do...
- in order to do, what they want to do. - Come on.
[indistinct chatter and screaming]
Education... is the only way out.
- Come on. - Get up, get up, baby, come on.
- The way out of ignorance. - Like cutting you, Home boy!
- Wanna cut people, Trudell, huh? - Get your hands off'f me!
The way out of darkness...
- Into... the glorious light. - [applause]
¶ ¶
Come on, man, give it back... give it back.
- "To our precious Hamilton. " - This isn't funny.
Come on, Debar, give it back... please give it back, Debar.
Have a seat.
I am...
the darker... brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen, when company comes.
But I laugh... and I eat well, and I grow strong.
Tomorrow I'll sit at the table, when company comes.
Nobody will dare say to me, eat in the kitchen then.
Besides, they'll see how beautiful... I am.
And be ashamed...
I too... am America.
Who wrote that?
- Lester Hughes, 1924. - 1925.
Hating you, shall be a game played with cool hands.
Memory will lay it's hands...
upon your breast. And you will... understand my hatred.
Gwendolyn Bennet wrote that. She was born in 1902...
"Unofficially".
You see, in most states, negroes were denied birth certificates...
which means, I can lie about my age, the rest of my life.
You think that's funny?
To be born... without record.
Mr. Reed, hand these out.
I'm going to introduce you, to some new voices this semester...
There's a revolution going on... in the north.
In Harlem, they're changing the way negroes in America thing.
I'm talking about poet's, like Hughes, Bennett, Zola Neal Hurston, Countee Cullen.
Some are teethed on a silver spoon, with the stars strung up for a rattle.
- I cut my teeth, as a black raccoon... - For implements of battle.
Meet me after class.
What's a professor doing, in the middle of the night, dressed like a con jockey?
What is that student doing, in the middle of the night, throwing his life away?
- Funny, I thought, I was defending myself. - Hmm...
I remember you.
Couple years ago, but then you disappeared.
- What happened? - Come and go, whenever it suits me.
- Suspension? - Leave of absents.
Why'd you come back?
School's the only place, where you can read all day.
Except prison.
I want you to come by my house tonight 7:30.
- Corner of June and Dampest. - Why would I do that?
- Holding try outs, for the debate team. - You're sure you want somebody like me?
No... that's why you're trying out.
7:30... June and Dampest.
¶ ¶
[indistinct man’s voice]
Driven by the wind and tossed...
Do well tonight, Junior.
Of the 360 students here at Wiley College...
Only 45 of you were brave enough... to try out for the debate team.
Of the 45, only 4 of you will remain standing, when the tryouts are over.
Why?... Because debate is blood sport. It's combat, but your weapons are words.
Come on in, now that Mr. Farmer has joined us, we can begin.
- Sit down Mr. Farmer, not right there, over there. - James, come this way!
- Good evening, Mrs. Tolson. - Good evening. - Excuse me.
- We're waiting for you Mr. Farmer. - I'm going, Sir.
Thank you Mr. Farmer, you smell very good, Mr. Farmer.
- Thank you Sir. - You're very welcome.
Gentlemen and Lady. This is the hot...
...spot. You will enter it... at your own risk.
- Mr. Tolson, what about the debaters from... - Don't ask a questions, you already know the answer to.
Get up, you'll be first, you right here in the hotspot.
Debate starts with a proposition, with an idea, resolved.
Child labor should be regulated by the Federal Government.
The first debater, argues the affirmative. Affirmative means, that you are "For" something.
Mr. Reed, will argue the affirmative, the second debater argues the negative.
- Negative means that you are what? - Against.
Brilliant Mr. Burgess, you shall argue the affirmative Mr. Reed, go.
Well, Sir, I'll begin with a quote, from the poet Cleghorn.
The golf-links lie so near to the mill...
That almost every day the laboring children can look out and...
- And... - And watch the man at play?
Is that what you learned from last year, Mr. Reed? To start something and then not finish it, is it?
- No Sir. - Sit down.
Who's next? You! Stand up... stand up.
- It's getting late, how much longer can you hide? - I'm not hiding, Sir.
I transferred from my college just to come and try out for your team, Sir.
I'm deeply move, what's your name?
- Samantha Brooke. - Brooke?
- With an "e". - Arise Miss Brooke with an "e".
Into the hotspot, Miss Brooke with an "e".
You know, there's never been a female on the debating team, ever?
- Yes Sir, I know that. - What makes you think, you should be the first?
- Because, Sir, I'm just as qualified as... - Withstanding, Miss Brooke.
- anybody else here, my gender has nothing... - Resolved.
Welfare, discourages hard work.
- You argue the negative. - All right.
Welfare takes away a man strongest reason for working... which is survival.
And that weakens the will of the poor, how do you rebut that Miss Brooke with an "e"?
I would say, it does not.
Most of the new deal goes to children anyway, and to the handicapped...
- and to old people. - Is that fact or conjecture?
- It is a fact. - Speak up.
- It is a fact. - What's your source?
- The President. - Of the United States?
- Yes, Sir. - That's your primary source?
- You spoke to president Roosevelt personally? - Of course not, I did not speak to him personally.
But I listen to his "Fire Side Chat".
- Ahh, a radio broadcast? - Yes.
- Any other sources? - What? - Any other sources?
Yes, there are other sources, like that look in a mothers eyes, when she can't feed her kids.
Without welfare Mr. Tolson, people would be starving.
- Who's starving Mrs. Brooke? - The unemployed are starving.
Mr. Burgess here, he's unemployed obviously he's not starving.
I drew you in Miss Brooke, you gave a faulty premise, so your syllogism fell apart.
- Syllogism? - Your logic fell apart.
Major premise, the unemployed are starving. Minor premise, Mr. Burgess is unemployed.
Conclusion, Mr. Burgess is starving, your major premise was based on a faulty assumption.
Classic fallacy. Who's next?
You were right.
- Tell us your name. - I'm Henry Lowe with an "e".
All right, Mr. Lowe, I will name a subject, you speak a few words.
- Opportune quote from the literature. - Go ahead.
Beauty.
I heard the old, old Man say, all that is beautiful drifts away, like the waters.
Very good. History... and name the author this time.
History is a nightmare, from which I'm trying to awake. James Joyce.
Self-pity.
I never saw a wild thing, sorry for itself. D. H. Lawrence.
I love D. H. Lawrence, have you ever read his...?
- Mr. Farmer. - Yes, Sir.
I have eyes in the back on my head, and ears on both sides. Stand up.
Tell me the irony in the name Bethlehem Steel Corporation.
Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus, Prince of peace...
and Bethlehem Steel, makes weapons of war.
- Very good, sit down. - Good.
Who's next?
Samantha!
Samantha.
- Mr. Tolson, he's tough, isn't he? - Sure is.
I'm James.
- Is your father Dr. James Farmer? - Yes, he is.
I'm taking the eulogy from him, and that man speaks in tongues.
French, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, how many languages does he speak?
- Several languages. - Several languages.
- He must be the smartest man in Texas. - No, that's not saying much.
- So, why do you wanna be on the team? - It could be good training.
- For what? - Being a lawyer.
Lawyer? That's great.
You know how many negro women practice law in this state?
- Two. - Exactly.
None of them's are hot.
Well, look at you Mr. Farmer, how old are you anyway?
I'll be 16. In 21 months.
Young lady, James, I ahh... I just wanna thank you.
- For what? - Well, for your performance tonight.
I mean, how many other students ever stand up to Tolson?
- I did. - No, you answered a question.
And I spouted a few quotes.
Miss Brooke with an "e".
- She fought back. - And lost.
But, you didn't have to lose, why isn't the "Fire Side Chat" a legitimate source?
Because Tolson said so?
Nobody has better access to those statistics, then the President.
If you'd called Tolson on that, you would have won.
I don't know, I'm sure that he would have come up with something.
- Goodnight James. - Goodnight Samantha.
Can you believe, that he's only 14 years old and he's in college?
You are gifted, all of you, so I want you to know, that I chose this team for balance.
And none of you should take it as a failure. As a denigration of your intellect.
Denigrate, that's a word for you.
From Latin word "Niger", to defame, to blacken it's always there, isn't it?
Even in the dictionary, even in the speech of a negro professor.
Somehow black, is always equated with failure.
Well, write your own dictionary and mark this as a new beginning.
Whether, you make the team or not.
The Wiley College Forensic Society of 1935-36, is as follows:
The debaters will be...
Mr. Hamilton Burgess, from last year’s team.
Sit down Mr. Burgess.
Mr. Henry Lowe.
Our alternates, Miss Samantha Brooke with an "e".
And finally...
Junior! Slow down!
- Where's dad? - Be quiet, he's writing his lecture.
- Dad. - Junior.
What is, the greatest weakness of man?
Not believing? Doubt?
That's it. Thank you Junior, Matthew 14-31.
That will be the lesson.
- Dad. - Oh, you of little faith...
Why do you doubt?
- Dad. - What is it son?
- I made the debate team. - Well, congratulation, and who is on your team?
- There's 4 of us, I'm one of the alternates. - Who's ahead of you?
Hamilton Burgess and Henry Lowe, and the other is alternate Samantha Brooke.
- There's a girl? - She wants to be a lawyer.
- Lawyer? - She is very intelligent.
- Is she pretty? - I don't know, I never really noticed.
The extracurricular activities like the debate team are fine, but you must not take the eye of the ball, son.
Yes, Sir.
- So, what do we do here? - We do we have to do, so we can do we want to do.
- What do you have to do right now? - My homework.
- So get to it. - Yes, Sir.
¶ ¶
My daddy owns grubs with apples, bananas, cookies, donuts, eggs, pigs and gonzolabies.
- Nice. - What's a gonzolabie?
- Hogwash, hogwash. - Hogwash, gonzolabie?
On your mark, ready, go.
- Apricot. - Oh, come on. - Why not apricot?
Look out!
- What was that? - I'm not sure.
Sit down, and stay put.
- What is it? - It's a pig.
- Just a pig. - Shut up dog!
Junior get in the car.
- What the hell happened to my hog? - Sorry about that.
Came out of nowhere, I didn't see it coming.
- You killed my hog, boy. - I'm truly sorry, I gladly pay for it.
How much? How much you want?
- It's gonna cost you 25 dollars. - I only have a few bucks on me right now, but I...
I do have a cheque, my monthly cheque, from Wiley College in Marshall.
It's 17 dollars 36 cents.
You may have that, I would endorse that over to you.
- You do what? - I will sign the cheque over to you.
- Well, let me see it. - It's in the car, with my wife.
Gonna walk to the car now.
Junior get in the car.
- Give me the salary cheque, Pearl. - We need that money, James.
Just give me the cheque, go on.
- I thought it was here, I saw it. - Relax, alright, you'll find.
Here it is.
Here.
- This cheque better be good, boy. - It's good.
Well, pick it up.
Waugh, dough, dough, where the hell you think you're going?
You gotta help us get this hog in my truck. Come on, grab the tail end of it, boy.
Alright, on three. One, two, three.
God damn niggers, think their too good to get their hands dirty.
- Dad. - I told you to get in the car.
When I tell you to do something, Junior, you do it.
- Who's the judge? - The judge is God.
- Why is he God? - Because he decides who wins or loses, not my opponent.
- Who is your opponent? - He doesn't exist.
- Why does he not exist? - Because he is a mute dissenting voice, to the truth I speak!
- Who is the judge? - The judge is God.
- Why is he God? - Because he decides who wins or loses, not my opponent.
- Who's your opponent? - He doesn't exist.
- Why doesn't he exist? - Because he is a mute dissenting voice, to the truth I speak!
- Who is the judge? - The judge is God.
- Why is he God? - Because he decides who wins or loses, not my opponent.
- Who is your opponent? - He doesn't exist.
- Why does he not exist? - Because he is a mute dissenting voice, to the truth I speak!
Who is the judge?
- The judge is God. - Louder.
- The judge is God. - Why is he God?
Because he decides who wins or loses, not my opponent.
- Who is your opponent? - He doesn't exist.
- Why does he not exist? - Because he is a mute dissenting voice, to the truth I speak!
- Speak the truth! - Speak the truth!
- Yes, Sir, I do like to talk. - Is that a virtue or a vice?
I have to admit I always wanted to be the quiet mysterious type, only I couldn't keep my mouth shot long enough.
- Would you punch yourself in a street fight, Mr. Burgess? - No, Sir.
Then don't punch yourself in a word fight, you don't have to make fun of yourself.
Use your humor against your opponent.
- Mr. Farmer. - Yes Sir.
Happy Mr. Farmer, tell us one thing we don't know about your father.
- He is the first negro PhD. - One thing we don't know about your father, Mr. Farmer.
He walked from Florida to Massachusetts to go College at Boston University.
He graduated magna cum laude.
Mr. Lowe! Tell us about your father.
- Why don't you tell us something about your father? - I'm trying to get to know each other, Mr. Lowe.
- And I'm trying get to know you, Mr. Tolson. - I'm not the one on debate team.
- Are we engaged in the debate right now? - All right.
I take the affirmative.
Take the meanest, most restless nigger
Stripped of his clothes in front of the many man niggers, female niggers and nigger infants.
Tar and feather him, tied each leg, to a horse facing in opposite directions.
Set him on fire and beat both horses, until they tear him apart.
In front of the male, female and nigger infants.
Bull whip and beat the remaining nigger males, with an inch of their life.
Do not kill them, but put the fear of God in them.
For they can be useful, for future breeding. Anybody know who William Lynch was?
Anybody? Raise your hand? No one. He was a vicious slave owner in the West Indies.
The slave masters in the colony of Virginia were having trouble, controlling their slaves.
So the sent for Mr. Lynch to teach them his methods.
The word "lynching" came from his last name.
His methods were very simple, but diabolical. Keep the slave physically strong.
But psychological weak and dependent on the slave master. Keep the body, take the mind.
I...
and any other professor on this campus, are here to help you...
to find, take back and keep, your righteous mind.
Because obviously you have lost it.
That's all you need to know about me, Mr. Lowe.
Class dismissed.
¶ ¶
[people dancing, cheering]
[dancing, cheering continues]
- Wanna dance? - Yes.
Come.
You're a good dancer.
Thank you, I practice in my room.
Keep that.
- Excuse me, your punch. - Thank you.
- I better go get me some punch. - Yea, it tastes like my own, it's good.
Alright.
You know, I can take you to a place, where's real music, right?.
- I'm not leaving here Henry. - Just for a spell, I'll bring you right back.
And what would my chaperone say?
- You'll be back, before she ever knows you're gone. - Ah, m, m...
What's the matter, you're afraid?
Mr. Tolson.
Mr. Tolson!
¶ ¶ [singing and music continues]
[indistinct chatter]
They tell them us sharecroppers just get wages, so they don't have to split the farms subsidy with us.
And that's why the Southern Tenant Farmers Union, wants you to organize.
- To make things right. - Well, how? Strike?
- They'll be just bringing in the Mexicans. - We'll organize them too.
Yea, so they'll shoot us all down white colored and Mexicans...
That is exactly what they want you to believe. The farm boys want you to believe, that...
they'll make war, but they won't. They may be fools but they're smart businessman.
And once we organize, they'll see, even guns can't stop us.
- They stopped them in Elaine. - Why don't you talk about that?
About how they killed a 100 colored sharecroppers, for trying to organize.
- That was 1919, my friend. - That was my dad, they gunned down... friend.
We're sorry about that, but those men stood alone, that's my point.
This is 1935. We got the National Labor Relation Board.
- We've got the A.F.of L. - You ain't got shit.
He ain't got shit.
Hey, they're coming! Here they come!
Get the lights! Everybody get down.
[indistinct shouting and screaming]
Come on, come on, let's go, come on, let's go.
- This way. - [shouting and screaming continues]
Come on. All right.
What... are you doing out here?
I saw you, I was walking by your house, and I saw you dressed plainly.
I'm dressed like them, son, you think they'd listen to me if I was wearing a tuxedo?
Listen to me, you're listening?
You cannot tell anybody what you saw tonight. You understand?
- Not even my wife knows about this. - I won't tell anybody I promise.
I promise on a stack of Bibles, I won't tell anybody.
Jesus...
Come on.
Junior...
Are you just gonna stand there?
No Sir.
Sorry I'm late.
You're sorry? It's 1 o'clock in the morning.
- I've been looking everywhere for you. - I went to Mr. Tolson house after the dance.
I thought you might have that, that's why I went over there.
I talked to Ruth, she said Tolson was gone and you weren't there.
Son, I give you another chance. Where were you?
- I can't tell you, Sir. - Good Lord Boy.
- We were worried to death about you. - Junior, where were you?
- I can't tell you Sir. - Why not?
- I don't know. - I don't know?
I don't know is not an acceptable answer, Junior.
- Junior. - Silence is not an option either.
- You've been drinking? - Honey.
- Because you must have been drinking, to come in to my house... - Honey.
talking about you don't wanna tell me, where you've been at 1.30 in the morning.
- Come on baby, tell me what's the matter? - Mom, nothing is the matter.
Something is the matter, something is wrong, were you with that girl... you're with that girl?
- No. - Because you're 14 years old, Junior you've got plenty of time for girls later.
- I wasn't with Samantha. - Junior.
- Then where were you? - Where were you honey?
You don't wanna talk?
Fine. But you're not leaving this house.
- What do you mean? - Just what I said.
You're not leaving this house until you tell me the truth.
- What about school? - Don't go questioning what I just said, boy.
- Mom, what about school? - And don't raise your voice!
- I'm not raising my voice. - You gonna raise your voice in this house?
- I am not raising my voice! - You get a job, pay your way, and you're a man now?
- I'm not raising my voice. - Just apologize.
I didn't say anything, why do I have to apologize.
Like he apologized to that pig farmer?
What'd you said, boy?
You go to your room.
Junior...
I'm not gonna be weak on this, Pearl.
I know.
I can't allow my son to be corrupt.
You're right, now let's just go to bed.
I'll take him to school in the morning.
- All right? - All right.
I will be honest with you, boys, I'm not well.
- I'm not well at all this morning. - I'm sure sorry to hear that, Sir.
- But you look well to me, don't he look well? - Yes Sir, you look real good.
Now we've got some white fellows from up north coming in to our town.
They're steering up trouble between our coloreds and our whites, they say that we need to make a union.
The sharecroppers and the workers, all together colored and white.
They need to make a union? How you boys feel about that?
I don't know Sir, I really ain't thought much about that.
- It's a bad idea, it's a bad idea, take my word for it. - Yes, Sir.
And they said, that there was some kind of secret meeting last night, down near the lake.
- Now, do you boys know about that? - No, Sir.
You don't know about that?
- Samuel? - No, Sir.
- You didn't hear about that? - No Sir.
- You'll swear to me? - Yes Sir, yes Sir, I swear.
Well, alright then.
See you later.
Our first debate...
is one week from today.
- One week? - That's right.
- I thought Preview was first. - Preview is tough, so I thought we need a warm up.
- The best negro college in the State? - That's right Mr. Burgess, does that frighten you?
Yes Sir.
- One week is not enough time to write our arguments. - You do research, I write the arguments.
- Wait, you? You write the arguments? - And you deliver them, Mr. Lowe.
- What the hell do I do look like, a mailman? - Hell is where you headed, if you question me again.
In theory you look like a student. So, what you're saying is, I'm not capable?
It's not a matter of competence, it's the matter of experience.
- How do I know you...? - I write the arguments.
That's the way it's been, that's the way it's going to be. Any more questions?
One week.
I'm bringing to you our first affirmative debater.
From Paul Quinn College.
- Query Hubbard. - [applause]
Resolved. Unemployment relief should be ended.
When the depression ends.
If the depression ends.
I've traveled back through history to 1536.
When the first Prole Laws of England were mandate. [prole - laborer, worker]
In those days the dole or welfare as we call it.
Was founded by voluntary contributions.
But as time passed, the English devised the allayment system. [allayment - relief]
The first unemployment relief, only now it was paid but involuntary contributions.
More commonly known as taxes. The allayment system was a disaster.
The only real unemployment relief is, to give a man a job.
But to do that, you have to give the economy life, not tax it to death.
[applause]
When capitalism was young.
The old puritanical concept to duty was: He who does not work, should not eat.
And that made sense, when there was more work, than men willing to do it.
But those days are gone.
Now there are men who want to work, but find themselves standing in bread lines,
Now should they not eat?
Because there is no jobs? People today, we need a new concept to duty.
The right of an individual, to demand from society, just as much as he gives to society. [applause]
We clutch at anything, that even looks like a solution.
16 million dollars a month, for public relief.
Pay it out. If it'll keep the hobos off the streets.
One seventh of the population of the US on welfare.
Fine, as long as it is ends our misery.
- A nation as desperate as this, is a danger to itself. - [applause]
Once, a Roman general brought peace to a rebellious province...
by killing all its citizens.
Even his fellow Romans were shocked.
One of them wrote: "Solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant".
Which means: "They create Desolation and call it Peace".
Now for all their facts and figures, the Paul Quinn debaters would also create desolation...
And call it peace.
- They would allow the unemployed to die, so the economy can live. - [applause]
A brilliant young woman, I know was asked once, to support her argument in favor on social welfare.
She named the most powerful source imaginable.
The look in a mothers face, when she cannot feed her children.
Can you look that hungry child in the eye?
See the blood on his feet from walking barefoot in the cotton fields?
Or do you ask his baby sister, with her belly swollen from hunger...
- if she cares about her daddy's work ethic?! - [applause]
He's good.
Wiley! Wiley! Wiley! Wiley!
¶ ¶
The only thing that matters, if it's a big fish or a little fish...
and the color of the fish does not count.
WON 2. LOST 0.
If the state of Mississippi wouldn't turn their head, each and every time a negro was lynched.
- You think the Federal Government would intervene? - [applause and cheering]
WON 3. LOST 0.
Wiley! Wiley! Wiley! Wiley!
And the winner is... ?Fisk University?...
- Wiley College. - [applause and cheering]
WON 8. LOST 0.
WON 18.
WILEY COLLEGE DEBATERS NEW CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
That's right captain, I think I've got the ring leader.
Ahm... alright, that's what you want.
Yeah, okey dokey then, bye, bye.
- Shit. - Who was that?
- Captain Wainwright. - Texas Rangers?
He wants me to hold off on picking this fellow up...
- until him and his boys get up here. - Shit, he wants to get his picture in the paper.
Yeah, we do all of the work, and they get all of the glory.
Yup.
I guess that's the way the world is.
Ain't I right, Samuel?
I have an announced to make, excuse me.
- Recently I, ah... we, - Mhm...
Sent some letters to some major universities.
Told them all about us, our team, and what we've been doing,
And... ah, yesterday we got a response.
From Oklahoma City University.
- Aren't they a...? - Anglo-Saxons, yes.
Yes, we'll be the first negro college in America,
Well, one of the first negro colleges in America,
- To have a debate at a white college. - All right.
University of Oklahoma.
Not University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma City University.
The debate will take place at an off-campus site.
At an off-campus site? Why?
Because sometimes, Mr. Lowe, you have to take things one step at a time.
So what you're saying is, that the crackers in Oklahoma, ain't gonna let us on their campus?
No, what I'm saying is, that you have to take things one step at a time.
- This is a great opportunity. - Thank you very much.
A great opportunity? The master's just gonna give us a little crumb of his plate, huh.
What?
I think Lowe here is afraid.
What am I afraid of, James?
I think you're afraid to debate white people.
- Anglo-Saxons. - Anglo-Saxons.
- Thank you very much. - Mr. Tolson let me debate.
I mean, I'll debate Anglo-Saxons anywhere.
In a dark alley with no light, with a candle lid, and people chasing me down with guns.
Now, I'll debate Anglo-Saxons anywhere.
- I ain't afraid. - I am.
Mr. Tolson when I came here today.
I saw the Sheriff outside watching your house.
What's going on?
Maybe you should ask the Sheriff.
I've been hearing a lot of rumors, about what you're doing.
My dad just called the Dean last week.
And asked, what is a communist doing, teaching at a good Methodist College.
My politics are my business Mr. Burgees and promise you, that it will not endanger the team.
But Sir, it is being endangered.
I came to Wiley College to be educated not investigated.
- I understand. - I don't wanna be dragged in to anything.
- If my parents... - I'm sorry.
Mr. Tolson please, just tell me you're not a communist, otherwise...
Otherwise what?
My father says I have to quit.
- Nobody wants that. - Then tell me.
As I said, my politics are my business.
I guess I have to resign.
Mrs. Tolson, thank you for the wonderful dinner.
You're welcome, Hamilton.
Good luck in Oklahoma, you all.
I know you'll win.
All right. Well... If anybody else wants to quit, I'll understand.
Resolved: Negroes should be...
...should be admitted.
- I can't hear you! Louder! - Resolved:
Negroes should be admitted...
...to state universities.
My partner and I will prove that...
...blocking a negroes admission...
...to a State University is not only wrong.
It is absurd.
The negro people are not just the color, in the American fabric.
They are the thread that holds it all together.
Consider the legal and historical record.
May 13, 1865, Sergeant Cracker, a negro.
Is the last soldier to die, in the Civil War.
In 1918 the first US soldiers...
...decorated for bravery in France...
...are negroes, Henry Johnson and Nedham Robins.
1920, The New York Times announces that the "n" in "negro"...
...would hereafter be capitalized.
To force upon south, what they're not ready for?
Would result in nothing, but more racial hatred.
Doctor W.E.B. Du Bois, he is perhaps the most eminent negro scholar in America.
He comments...
...it's a silly waste of money...
...time and temper...
To try pelt a powerful majority to do...
what they're determined not to do.
My opponent so conveniently chose to ignore the fact,
That W.E.B. Du Bois is the first negro who received a PhD,
From a white college, called Harvard.
Doctor Du Bois, he adds. It is impossible,
Impossible for a negro to receive a proper education, at a white college.
The most eminent negro scholar in America, Is the product of the United League education.
You see, Du Bois knows all too well, the white man's resistance to change.
But that's no reason, to keep a black man out of any college.
If someone didn't force upon the south, something it wasn't ready for.
I'd still be in chains, and Miss Brooke here, be running from her own master.
I do admit it, it is true.
Far too many whites are afflicted, with the disease of racial hatred.
And because of racism it would be impossible for a negro to be happy,
In a southern white college today.
And if someone is unhappy...
It is impossible to see how they could receive a proper education.
Yes, the time will come when negroes and whites would walk on the same campus.
And we will share the same classrooms.
Sadly that day is not today.
As long as schools are segregated.
Negroes will receive an education that is both...
separate and unequal. By Oklahoma's own reckoning...
the state is currently spending 5 times more...
for the education of a white child, then it is spending, to educate a colored child.
That means better textbooks, for that child, than for that child.
Oh, I say that's a shame, but my opponent says, today is not the day...
for whites and coloreds, to go to the same college.
To share the same campus. To walk in the same classroom.
Well, would you kindly tell me, when is that day gonna come?
Is it gonna come tomorrow? Is it gonna come next week? In a 100 years?
Never?
No the time for justice. The time for freedom and the time for equality,
Is always, and always right now!
[applause]
Thank you.
What is this?
I told you it's holy wine, it'll put hair on your chest.
- If you say so. - Good, ain't?
There's a bathroom there, if you need it.
And my weapons they're words.
I don't need a gun, I don't need a knife, you see...
Meet me outside in 5 minutes.
And then what?
- Honey, nobody knows that better than you. - No, I'm fine.
- How you doing, Pearl? - Pearl!
- How you doing? - I'm just like you, where's your husband?
- He's in the study. - Okay.
- Dr. Farmer. - Congratulations Melvin.
- Thank you. - You put us on the map.
Well, your son is doing great job, his research is impeccable.
That's good to hear, good to hear.
Listen. There're people around town, who aren't very happy with your off-campus activities.
They're calling you a radical.
In fact I wouldn't be a bid surprised, to find out...
one morning when I woke up, that you're strung up to a tree.
They have to catch me first.
This is serious Melvin, very serious.
A hungry negro steals a chicken, he goes to jail.
A rich businessman steals barns, he goes to Congress.
I think that's wrong. Now if that makes me a radical, a socialist, a communist...
Amen, Amen on that.
- Jesus was a radical. - Careful.
- Yes, he was... - Careful. - Jesus was a radical.
Mental institutions are filled with people, who have confused themselves with Jesus Christ.
- I'm not confused... - Oh, you're confused with Jesus Christ now?
You're confused with Jesus Christ? You know what words do.
- Come on now. - Okay. - Amen.
You wanna confuse yourself with Jesus Christ.
No, I'm not confused, I'm convinced.
I'm not ah... I'm not judging you.
I'm just concerned... about your methods.
What methods?
James was there... that night, wasn't he?
He was not with me.
- Is he involved in this? - Of course not, James.
I've done everything in my power to keep him out of this.
- To keep him out? - Yes.
What, does he wanna be involved? You tell me he wants to be...
No, he doesn't... maybe this is something you should discuss with him.
I'm discussing it with you right now, and I don't feel like I'm getting a straight answer from...
No, you're getting a straight answer...
I think that you were there, with him that night.
- He was not with me. - He's a 14 years old boy.
I understand that, James.
And I'll do whatever I have to do, to protect him, you understand that?
- Is anybody thirsty? - Here, you are...
- Thank you. - Thank you. - You're welcome.
- Okay... Ruth, this is a fine party. - Thank you.
I think it is time for some sweet potato pie.
- Please. - I'll help you with that.
Not the time to talk about this.
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
It's so beautiful out here.
Yea... I was born near here, a little bid up the lake in Jefferson.
I've been coming here, since I was a little boy.
- Your parents still live around here? - No, no, they are... they're gone.
My grandparents raised me.
My papa, he spent this live, building levees around here, for free of course.
- Oh, he was a slave? - Mm... My grandma always was telling me to...
be good, or else the Confederates will rise up, out from the Marshall cemetery, and get me.
What?
I just never really seen this side of you before.
What side?
You seem so calm, so peaceful.
I think the lake does it to me, I'm happy when I'm up here, you know?
It's funny...
A part of me wants to just, stay out here by the lake, you know.
Read books all day, hunt and fish when I get hungry.
The other part wants to go everywhere you know, see everything.
I wanna go to New Orleans, New York, and Chicago...
and San Francisco.
So I wanna go... walking down the road...
just disappear.
Well, maybe you can take me with you.
¶ ¶
[band playing]
- It's over. - What?
The School band is playing outside.
What? Oh Jesus! I thought you said that nobody ever comes here.
Nobody ever does come here, Samantha.
Hold on, hold on.
Henry, come on!
Henry!
Get dressed.
What's going on?
We're gonna go get Mr. Tolson and Samantha head back to the campus.
And have a Pep-Rally.
Come on, get dressed.
You know what, you go get Tolson and I'll meet with you all later, at the campus.
Come on Lowe, you know it's gonna be fun...
I guess, I'm gonna tell them you're gonna join us later.
He's gonna join us later.
He just has to clean his house, that's all.
Great news! Great news! Great news!
My phone has been ringing off the hook.
University of Michigan wants to debate us.
So does SMU, so does Georgia. Where is Mr. Lowe?
When do I get to debate?
Sooner than you think James, sooner than you think.
When?
When you're ready.
Well, I'm ready now.
Mr. Tolson, I do not mind, if James...
What's wrong?
Maybe I'm tired of this.
Of what?
Of watching other people debate.
When am I get a chance to prove myself?
You are best researcher James.
We cannot do this without you.
Well, you do plenty without me.
Excuse me.
- James. - What?
James, you wait.
It was so mean what you said in there.
I don't wanna lose your friendship...
How can you lose something that you've never had?
You were never my friend?
Maybe I don't wanna just be your friend.
Maybe it hurts me to be your friend.
Get the handcuffs.
Mr. Tolson!
Where is he?
- Calm down Henry. - Have you seen him?
No they won't let us.
- They ain't did anything to you, did they? - No, we're fine.
Sheriff...
I'm Dr. James Farmer, Wiley College.
This is William Taylor, Mr. Tolson's attorney.
- And this is his wife, Ruth. - Hello.
I like to see my client, please.
William.
- Sir Dozier, Dr. James Farmer, this is... - Hello William.
How you doing today?
- Fine, Sir. And you? - Not too bad, not too bad.
Me and William we go way back, I knew William when I was a boy.
Could I see my client now, sheriff?
Your client?
Well, the fact of the business is, William, your client is kind of busy right now.
Busy doing what?
Sheriff, sheriff.
It's a situation...
- Get some of these boys out there. - Alright men.
Let him go, let him go...
- Let him go! Let him go! - Okey boys...
Let him go! Let him go!
- They're with you? - That's right.
See, this is what happens to a town when you let the unions in.
Starts trouble.
People get all rould up about nothing.
One of us is liable to get hurt. if you catch my drift.
Sheriff, it is clear, that you have no evidence.
To arrest Mr. Tolson.
So, I suggest you let him go.
You suggest it? Who the hell are you?
Couple months ago...
There was a raid on the farm in Tilmuch barn.
It was a peaceful and lawful gathering of sharecroppers,
Who were brutally attacked by a gang of violent vigilantes.
Now witnesses say, that you were there.
If you led that raid Sheriff,
You're the one who broke the law, not Tolson.
Are you threatening me, boy?
No, Sir.
I wouldn't do that.
But I cannot speak for those people outside.
An unjust law, is no law at all.
So, what does that mean?
A mass slaughter of citizens.
Both white and colored...
by Texas Rangers.
It's that really what you want as the Sheriff of this county?
Now if you let Tolson go home.
I believe, I believe these folks outside...
they'll go home as well.
- That pig wasn't worth 25 dollars. - What?
You owe my father some money.
Have a seat Mr. Farmer.
Oh Lord...
SMU has canceled.
University of Georgia sounds like they will follow suit.
Why?
I've been blacklisted.
They're talking about censoring me,
The Dean and members of the board, have asked me to...
Stop working with the sharecroppers or else.
They say that is not my fight.
So...
Things are bad.
My academic career is in jeopardy,
My debate team has nowhere to go.
Anyone know who Antaeus was?
Sure, he was a gigantic wrestler in Greek mythology.
His mother was Gaia, the Goddess of Earth, and ah... I mean he was unbeatable,
because every time someone thrown him down to the Earth it would make him stronger.
That's correct, it would make him stronger.
Defeat would make him stronger.
You are my students, I am your teacher.
I think that's sacred trust.
So what do I say to you now? Quit?
Because the Dean says so, because the Sheriff says so?
Because the Texas Rangers say so, no! I am diametrically opposed to that.
- My message to you is to never quit. - We are not quitting.
Good.
What do you want us to do?
- Debate Harvard. - Harvard?
Harvard University, they're the reigning national champions.
If we defeat them, we defeat the best.
Mr. Tolson, Sir, with all due respect, Harvard ain't gonna debate us.
Not little old Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.
They know who we are, Henry, I've been writing them letters, sending them articles...
But how do we get them, to letter back?
By continuing to win.
Dr. Farmer has informed me, that Howard University...
is gonna be in Prairie View next week. We annihilated Fisk.
If we eliminate Howard, we will have beaten, the two best negro colleges in the America.
And I can guarantee you, that I will see to it that Harvard does not ignore that.
All right?
Yeah.
[music and singing]
- Look for it on there, you see on there? - I've been looking for it on there.
- Prairie View, Texas. Hyw. 127. - You show me where to look, 'cause it's not on here
127, near Watchahatchee.
- It's not there. - It's there, you just can't find it.
I see two and I see seven.
Right, now put a 1 in front of it, and you got it.
- After 126... - Okay. - Before 128.
I really don't think... Where'd you get this map?
What're you doing?
I'm going out.
Back in the car, shut the door.
Nobody move.
Get down, get down... get down.
Get down too, get down.
There's niggers in that car.
Come on, let's go get them.
[indistinct chatter and screams]
All right, everybody sit tight...
I'll get the keys.
- How you doing Mrs. Baker? - I'm fine.
- Are you all right? - Yes, Ma-am.
- Please, come on in. - Thank you.
Henry.
Henry!
[giggling and indistinct chatter]
Okay...
Alright... have a good night.
Hey baby, how you doing?
You still up, waiting on me?
Oh, what's the matter baby? Come on.
Hey!
Samantha!
Shut up, and let's go.
- What'd you doin' boy? - Shut up, let's go... come on.
- Where're we going? - Next door.
Got him Mr. Tolson.
- [indistinct singing] - Shhh...
Shhh... okey, just sit, sit, sit...
Don't lie down in bed...
Come here, give me a hug.
Stop.
Look down yonder...
what'd I see, a great big nigger hangin' on a tree...
One nigger you're worthless...
What?
You think you're the only one hurt?
Ok, I'm sorry...
For everything...
For ahh... for drinking...
I apologize.
I'm not talking about me.
You're right.
I'll go talk to her.
No, no, I won't allow it, she doesn't need to see you like this, okay?
No, it's ok, I'm just gonna talk to her...
- Can't you leave me alone. - No.
Calm down boy, stop...
Stop, I'm not playing with you.
Calm... calm down.
You're crazy?
You're never gonna forget what you saw up there, you understand?
You're never gonna forget what you saw up there.
To hang you that's the easy part, sometimes sometimes they cut all your fingers off,
Your toes, your nose, your ears.
Sometimes they cut your privates off. [privates = external genitalia]
Sometimes they skin you alive.
You'll never be able to forget.
What do you think he did?
He didn't have to do nothing, James, he didn't have to do nothing.
In Texas, they lynch negroes.
Do you understand?
So, it doesn't matter how good we are, does it?
What do you talk... what?
This is all useless.
What are you talking about?
We're just a bunch negroes, debating each other on subjects we all agree on.
No, now, James, don't talk like that. All right?
- Why not? - Because you can't.
Not you.
Bye, God bless.
Where's Samantha?
She's not going with us.
Why not?
Why do you think?
I took her to the bus station.
She wants’ go back to school.
You wanted your chance? This is it.
How can any negro...
defend the punishment of prison...
When he sees so much oppression in his own life?
How?
Because crime itself is a form of oppression.
And negroes fall victim, to more violent crimes...
- than any other race in America. - [applause]
For us...
Prison not only offers protection, but retribution.
Yes, it is. And for the criminal...
It is a dark gift...
The hardship that introduces a man to himself...
That rouses his passion for freedom...
- His hope for redemption. - [applause]
Our next debater from Wiley College,
Mr. James Farmer Junior.
Mr. Farmer.
Mom.
- Honey! - Hey...
Hi!
- Ohhh... - Mhmm...
So?
We lost.
Oh... I'm sorry.
Ahm... this came.
Harvard.
Who sent this?
- Go on, open it! And read it. - It seems that someone opened it already.
Not me.
- You didn't open it already? - No.
You are not a good liar.
Out loud!
Dear Mr. Tolson. Thank you for informing us about your historic victory...
over Oklahoma City. I'm sure you realize our season is...
nearly over, but today we received another letter from...
Wiley College, written by Mr. Henry Lowe... with an "e".
He told us from his student's prospective about your...
about your undefeated season.
- Well, we're not undefeated any more. - Don't matter.
We wish to extend an invitation to...
We wish to extend an invitation to debate Harvard Crimson,
Here at Cambridge.
Let us know, if this is agreeable to you.
- Don't tell anybody. - No.
No, you don't have to thank me.
- I just wanted to show you, I could write too. - Yes good, thank you.
You could do me a favor.
What's that?
Keep Samantha on the team...
Why I wanna do that?
Mr. Tolson it was a rough night.
Yes it was, Mr. Lowe, for all of us.
- And she walked out on us at last minute. - No, Sir, she didn't walk out on us.
She walked out on me.
It's good tea.
Resolved:
Capitalism is immoral you will argue the affirmative.
To a bunch of Wall Street bankers.
Mr. Tolson, I owe you and my teammates...
You're late, come in, sit down.
Samantha, I am not...
Resolved.
You've got macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, black eyed peas for good luck...
red beans and rice, corn bread, candied jam, I put some peach cobbler in there too.
And some red pudding, I know you don't like red pudding, but I put some in there anyway.
Thank you mom.
Good luck son.
Dad...
Yes, Junior.
You give Boston my regards, you hear?
- Yes Sir, okay. - Hey.
Come on, the train's leaving.
Coming.
- Bye mom. - Bye bye.
Love you.
Love you too.
All aboard.
- I'm not going with you. - What?
I cannot leave the state, it's the conditions on my bail.
You can't let them stop you.
They're not stopping me.
I just don't wanna jeopardize, your opportunity.
You can win without me, that's what you wanted to do all along. Isn't it?
He's right.
Why didn't you tell us this before?
Because I didn't wanna hear your arguments, I knew they would be too good.
All right Mr. Lowe you're in charged.
Whatever your instincts tell you, you listen.
- Yes Sir. - Let's go.
What we're supposed to do without you?
Win.
¶ ¶
I thought somebody was supposed to meet us.
- Wiley College? - Yes.
I'm Harland Osborne. Harvard has put me in charge for the time you are here in Boston.
- Hi, I am Henry Lowe. - Mr. Lowe.
- James Farmer Junior. - Mr. Farmer.
- Samantha Brooke. - Of course, Miss Brooke.
We should be going, my car is out front.
- I've got it. - Thank you.
Just so you know, you'll be staying on campus in Douglas Hall.
I got to tell you, this debate is stirring up a lot of excitement.
- Really? - Oh yeah.
It's gonna be broadcasted all over America.
- Can we see where we gonna have the debate? - Of course.
Hello Harvard.
Excuse me.
You're supposed to be here?
I guess we'll find out. Won't we?
Oh, look, Mr. Farmer.
5 dollars?
Lowe, I've got 5 dollars.
Yeah, I did too. It's called "per diem".
- You want me hold it for you? - No, not my 5 dollars.
I've got 5 dollars. I've got 5 dollars.
Me too.
Well, mine's still crispy.
James, this is high tea, all right?
We nibble, we do not devour.
How do you know?
I don't.
Hello, I'm Wilson. This is for you.
Thank you.
I can't accept that Sir. It would be inappropriate.
"To be inappropriate".
- Who wrote this? - From Harvard.
Maybe it's more money.
We have been informed, by Tau Kappa Gamma, that your team delivers...
Canned speeches..
Arguments written by faculty rather than students.
Therefore we are changing the topic. You have the same amount of time...
To write new arguments as the Harvard team. 48 hours.
Coaches help students all the time.
Yes Sir.
Both teams will be delivered the same reference books.
A new topic: "Resolved: Civil disobedience is a moral weapon to fight for justice".
Wiley College will be arguing the affirmative.
Thank you, Sir.
I can’t reach Mr. Tolson.
Nobody knows where he is.
He set us up to lose.
We can't win without him.
You're wrong, we can't without him.
Thoreau?
Here is your coffee, Sir.
Thank you, Mr. Wilson.
Just Wilson.
Thank you, Wilson.
- Well, you have to use the mass... - But is that...
We agreed, James, that we'll save it for the red button, we're gonna save the best for last.
Because you have to... you have to lead the audience.
I think we should include this Gandhi concept with Satyagraha...
I don't agree, I think people can't understand Satyagarha... or a... Suchgar...
Satyagraha, from the Sanskrit, meaning truth and fairness.
I told you.
It's obvious to me that we should begin the debate with Gandhi.
That's exactly what I won't do.
Why should I do the obvious thing?
Because that's what wins debate.
Listen to what you're saying, this is Harvard, ok?
The first thing you think of, when you say "disobedience"... what's the first thing?
That's why we chose Gandhi! He's a strong poet.
I wanna win. Do you wanna win?
Yes, I wanna win.
This is getting way out of hand.
Tolson told me I was in charge, he didn't put you in charge.
And he didn't put you in charge, he put me in charge, so I make the decision.
We will not start with Gandhi.
- You're acting like a kid! - Well, you are a kid.
And you're an idiot.
- I'm an idiot? - Yes, you're an idiot.
The hell with you, the hell with you, the hell with this debate.
The hell with me? Just because I'm disputing you? You're gonna walk out on me?
Hell... you...
- He's coming back, isn't he? - See if I care.
You're beautiful when you sleep.
Yea, I know, I know...
Still, can't stop me from looking at you.
Why don't you, shut up and go to bed.
James, come on, wake up.
No.
James...
Come on, get up.
What?
What is this?
That's my notes.
Why you're giving them me for?
Because you're debating not me.
What?
It's your turn James.
You're serious?
- You're crazy. - 14 and just as good as me.
The judges will love you.
No, no, no you can't quit.
I'm not quitting, Samantha.
Tolson made me captain, and it says you're ready.
But you saw me at Howard, I was horrible.
That's right, you did terrible, didn't you? You stunk up the whole joint. Right?
So you just quit, right, so you just give up?
No.
Who is the judge?
What?
Who is the judge?
Judge is God.
And why is he God?
Cause he decides who wins or loses, not my opponent.
Who is your opponent?
He doesn't exist.
Why doesn't he exist?
Cause he is a mute dissenting voice, to the truth I speak.
That's right. Speak the truth.
Direct from Harvard, Memorial Hall in Cambridge Massachusetts,
This is the WNBC Radio, bringing to you live tonight history, making debate...
Between little Wiley College, from Marshall Texas,
And the Harvard University debate team.
The first time ever a negro college has faced the national champions.
The Harvard's Dean of students is making his way to the podium now.
The crowd as if it were cued, falls silent.
On this historical occasion,
We welcome the distinguished team from Wiley College.
Our illustrious judges, you, the audience, and through the wonder of radio, the nation.
Harvard University celebrates its 300th anniversary this year.
And in Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it's 5th President of the United States.
But no University, no matter how grand, or august in its history... [august = dignified]
Can't afford to live in the past.
So in the spirit of tomorrow...
I introduce to you today...
The debaters from Wiley College.
- Miss Samantha Brooke, Mr. James Farmer Jr. - [applause]
What?
Mr. Farmer will argue the first affirmative.
Resolved:
Civil disobedience is a moral weapon in the fight for justice.
But how can disobedience ever be moral?
I guess that depends on one's definition of the words.
Word.
In 1919 in India, 10 thousand people gathered...
In Amritsar, to protest the tyranny of British rule.
Has it started?
Your brother's talking, just sit down.
General Reginald Dyer, trapped them in a courtyard...
and ordered his troops to fire into the crowd for 10 minutes.
379 died.
Men, women, children, shot down in cold blood.
Dyer said he taught them a moral lesson.
Gandhi and his followers, responded not with violence...
But with an organized campaign of non-cooperation.
Government buildings were occupied,
Street were blocked by people, who refused to rise.
Even when beaten by police.
Gandhi was arrested.
But the British were soon force to release him.
He called it "a moral victory".
The definition of moral:
Dyer's lesson, or Gandhi’s victory?
- You choose. - [applause]
From 1914 to 1918,
For every single minute the world was at war...
4 men laid down their lives.
Just think of it.
240 brave young men...
Were hurled into eternity, every hour of every day,
Of every night for 4 long years.
35 thousand hours.
8,281,000 casualties.
240.
Here was a slaughter immeasurable greater then what happened in Amritsar.
Can there be anything moral about it?
Nothing.
Except that it stopped Germany, from enslaving all of Europe.
Civil disobedience isn't moral because it's non-violent.
Fighting for your country with violence can be deeply moral.
Demanding the greatest sacrifice of all.
Life itself.
Non-violence is a mask, civil disobedience wears...
To conceal it's true face.
- Anarchy. - [applause]
Gandhi believes one must always act...
With love and respect for ones opponents.
Even if they are Harvard debaters.
Gandhi also believes that law breakers,
Must accept the legal consequences for their actions.
Does it sounds like an anarchy?
Civil disobedience is not something for us to fear.
It is after all, an American concept.
You see Gandhi draws his inspiration not from a Hindu Scripture,
But from Henry David Thoreau, who I believe graduated from Harvard,
- And lived by a pond, not too far from here. - [applause]
My opponent is right about one thing.
Thoreau was a Harvard grad...
And like many of us,
A bit self-righteous.
He once said:
"Any man more right than his neighbors, constitutes a majority of one".
Thoreau, the idealist, could never know,
That Adolf Hitler, would agree with his words.
The beauty and burden of democracy is this:
"No idea prevails without the support of the majority".
The people decide the moral issues of today,
Not a majority of one.
Majorities do not decide, what is right or wrong, your conscience does.
So why should a citizen, surrender his true conscience...
To a legacy.
We must never, ever kneel down.
Before the tyranny of a majority.
We can't decide which laws to obey, and which to ignore.
If we could, I'd never stop for the red light.
My father is one of those men that stand between us and chaos.
A police officer.
I remember the day his partner,
His best friend,
Was gunned down in the line of duty.
Most vividly of all, I remember the expression on my dad’s face.
Nothing...
That erodes the rule of law, can be moral.
- No matter what name we give it. - [applause]
- Why doesn't he say something? - Shhh...
In Texas...
they lynch negroes.
My teammates and I,
Saw a man strung up by his neck...
and set on fire.
We drove through a lynch mob.
Pressed our faces, against the floor board.
I looked at my teammates...
I saw the fear in their eyes.
And worse... the shame.
What was this negro's crime?
That he should be hung without trial, in a dark forest filled with fog.
Was he a thief?
Was he a killer?
Or just a negro?
Was he a sharecropper?
A preacher?
Were his children waiting up for him?
And who are we, to just lie there
And do nothing.
No matter what he did, the mob was the criminal.
But the law did nothing,
Just left us wondering: Why?
My opponent says:
"Nothing that erodes the rule of law can be moral".
But there is no rule of law, in the Jim Crow South. Not when negroes...
are denied housing, turned away from schools...
hospitals, and not when we are lynched.
St. Augustine said:
"An unjust law is no law at all".
Which means, I have a right, even a duty to resist.
With violence or civil disobedience...
- You should pray, I choose the latter. - [applause]
In tonight’s debate,
Between Harvard University,
And Wiley College.
And the winner is...
- Wiley College. - [applause]
[cheering and applause]
Just 7 years later, in 1942 James Farmer Jr.
founded the Congress of Racial Equality.
And became a leader in the civil rights movement.
After a long life of teaching and writing.
James Farmer Sr. passed away in 1961.
on the day before Samantha Brooke, a lawyer,
took the first Freedom Ride to Alabama.
Henry Lowe went on study theology
at the University of California.
and became a minister.
Melvin Tolson became a world renowned poet.
He continues his work with Southern Yenant Farmers' Union.
By the end of 1936, it had 31000 members in seven states.
For ten years the Wiley College debate team went undefeated.