THE GREAT DEBATERS
Heavenly Father, we come before Thee,
knee-bent and 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 strength and wisdom to do Thy work.
In God's name we pray. Let all Gods people say:
Amen.
When I was slippin' up, she looked down, saw the head of something...
...was right there in her hands.
She told me it was a wild animal.
I say then it was Gods revenge.
You go heathen, Henry.
You know what I've got right here?
What?
Something very wild
/"When I was a child, I spake 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." (1Cor 13:11. KJV)
/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.
Trudell!
Who the hell is he?
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.
You're scared, ain't you?
You do raise and twice my size?
/They must defeat them.
/They must do what /they have to do...
/...in order to do what they want to do.
/Education is the only way out.
Get up, get up, baby, come on.
/The way out of ignorance.
Like cut people? Home boy?
Want to cut people, Trudell, uhm?
Get your hands off me!
The way out of darkness
Into the glorious light.
WHITES Only
Come on, give me back, come on, give me back.
- "To precious Hamilton." - This is not fun.
Give me back.
Have a seat.
/I am...
/...the darker brother.
/They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes.
/But I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong.
/Tomorrow I'll sit at the table When company comes.
/Nobody'll dare say to me, "Eat in the kitchen", then.
/Besides, they'll see how beautiful I am
/And be ashamed, --
/I, too, am America. (I, Too)
Who wrote that?
Langston Hughes, 1924.
1925.
/Hating you shall be a game...
/played with cool hands...
R E V O L U T I O N
/Memory will lay its hands...
/upon your breast.
/And you will understand my hatred. (Hatred)
Gwendolyn Bennett wrote that.
She was born in 1902.
Unofficially.
You see in most states...
negroes were denied birth certificate.
which means I can lie about my age for the rest of my life.
You think that's funny?
To be born without record.
Mr. Reed, hand this up.
I'm going to introduce you to some new voices this semester
There is revolution going on in the north.
In Harlem, they're changing the way...
negroes in America think.
I am talking about poets like Hughes, Bennett,
Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen.
/Some are teethed on a silver spoon, with the stars strung for a rattle.
/I cut my teeth as the black raccoon...
/...for implements of battle. (C. Cullen: Saturday's Child)
Meet me after class.
What's a professor doing in the middle of the night,
dressed like a corn-chopper?
What is a student doing in the middle of the night, throwing his life away?
It's funny, I thought I was defeating myself.
I remember you.
Couple years ago but you disappeared.
What happened?
I come and go, whatever it suits me.
- Suspension? - Leaves of absents.
Why did you come back?
School is the only place where you can read all day.
Except prison.
I want you to come by my house tonight 7:30.
Corner of Junho Campos.
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, Junho Campos.
/"...driven by the wind and tossed..." (Eph 4:14)
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 that 45 only 4 be who'll 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.
- 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.
Gentelmen and Lady!
This is the hot...
...spot.
You will enter it at your own risk.
Mr Tolson, what about debaters from last year?
Don't ask a question you already know the answer to.
Get up, you will 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 Goverment.
The first debater argues the affirmative.
Affirmative means that you afford something.
Mr. Reed will argue 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 begin with a quote from the poet Cleghorn.
/"The golf links lie so near the mill...
/That almost every day the laboring children can look out and...
/- And... - And watch the man at play? (Sarah Cleghorn)
It that what you learned from last year, Mr. Reed?
To start something and not finish it, is it?
- No sir. - Sit down.
Who's next? You, stand up, stand up.
Is getting late, how much longer can you hide?
I'm not hiding, sir.
I transfered from my college just to come and try out of your team.
I am deeply moved. What's your name?
- Samantha Booke. - Booke?
- With an "e". - Arise Miss Booke with an "e".
Into the hotspot Miss Booke 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 I am just as qualified as... - Withstanding Miss Booke.
-...anybody else. My gender has nothing... - Resolved.
Welfare discourages hard work.
- You're logging the negative. - All right.
Walfare takes away a man strongest reason for working...
Which is survival.
And that weakness the will of the poor. How do you rebut that, Miss Booke with "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 it a 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".
- A radio broadcast? - Yes.
Any other sources? Any other sources?
Yes, there are other sources...
Like that looking at a mother's eyes when she can't feed her kids.
Without welfare, Mr. Tolson, people would be starving.
- Who is starving, Miss Booke? - The unemployed are starving.
Mr. Burgess here, he is unemployed obviously he's not starving.
I drew you in, Miss Booke.
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 men say all that's beautiful drifts away...
/...like the waters." (William Butler Yeats)
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?
- Mr. Farmer. - Yes, sir.
I have eyes on the back of my head and ears on both sides.
Stand up.
Tell me the irony in the name Bethlehem Steel Corporation.
Bethlehem is the bithplace of Jesus, Prince of peace.
And Bethlehem Steel makes weapons of war.
Very good, sit down.
Good.
/Who's next?
Samantha.
Mr. Tolson, he is tough, isn't he?
Sure he 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?
- Seven languages. - Seven languages.
He must be the smartest man in Texas.
That's not saying much.
So why do you want to be on the team?
I think, it would be a good training.
- For what? - Being a lawyer.
Lawyer? It's great.
You know how many negro women practise law in the state?
- Two. - Exactly.
One it was a hot.
But look at you, Mr. Farmer, how old are you anyway?
I'll be 16.
In 21 months.
Young lady, James! I just want to thank you.
- For what? - For your performance tonight.
I mean, how many other students have a stand-up to Tolson?
- I did. - No, you answered a question.
And I spout off few quotes.
Miss Brooke with an "e"...
- She fought back. - And lost.
But you did'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 than the President.
If you'd have called Tolson on that, you'd have won.
I don't know. I'm sure that he would be able to come up with something.
Goodnight, James!
Goodnight, Samantha.
Can you believe that he's 14 years old and he's in the college?
You are gifted, all of you.
But 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 the word for you.
From Latin word "Niger", to defame, to black. Is always there, isn't it? Even in the dictionary.
Even in the speech of a negro professor.
Somehow black is always acquainted with failure.
Well write in your own dictionary and mark this as a new beginning.
Whether you make the team or not.
The Wiley College for Ransack 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 Booke with an "e".
And finally...
Junior! Slow down!
- Where is dad? - Quiet, he's writing the 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, congratulations! And who is on your team?
There is 4 of us, I'm one of the alternates.
Who's ahead of you?
Hamilton Burgess and Henry Lowe.
And another alternate is Samantha Booke.
- There's a girl? - She wants to be a lawyer.
- Lawyer? - She is very intelligent.
Is she pretty?
I don't know. I've never really noticed.
Because 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.
- Do get toward. - Yes, sir.
My daddy owns grubs so there're as apples, bananas, cookies,
donuts, eggs, figs and gonzolabic.
- Nice. - What is a gonzolabic?
Hogwash, hogwash.
Ready, steady, go!
- Apricot. - Oh, come on. - Why no apricot?
Look out!
Who was there?
I'm not sure.
- Sit down! - You stay put.
- What is it? - It's pig.
Only pig.
Shut up, dog!
Junior get into the car.
- What the hell happened to my hog? - Sorry about that.
Came out of nowhere I didn't see coming.
- You kill my hog, boy . - I'm truly sorry. I gladly pay you for it.
How much? How much you want?
Some cost you 25 dollars.
Only have a few bucks on right now but I can...
I do have a cheque.
My monthly cheque from Wiley College in Marshall.
It's 17 dollars 36 cents.
You may have that, and I would endorse that over to you.
You do what?
I will sign the cheque over to you.
- Well, let me see it. - Is in the car with my wife.
Can I 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. Come on.
I thought it was in here.
Relax. All right, you'll find.
Here is.
Here it is.
The cheque better be good, boy.
Is good.
Well, pick it up!
What the hell you think you're going?
You gotta help us get this hog in my truck.
Come on, grab the tail in there, boy.
All right, on three.
1, 2, 3.
Damned nigers a bit too good to get the 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 of 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 does he not exist?
Because he is a mute dissenting voice of 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 of 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 of the truth I speak!
Speak the truth!
Yes, sir. I do like to talk.
Is that a virtue or a vice?
Well, I have to admit I've always wanted to be the quiet mysterious type.
Only I can't keep my mouth ain't long enough.
Would you punch yourself on 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 to 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 just trying to get to know you, Mr. Tolson.
I'm not the one on the debate team.
Are we not engaged in the debate right now?
All right.
I'll take the affirmative.
Take the meanest, most restless nigger.
Strip him off his clothes in front of the remaining male niggers,
female niggers and niggers infants.
Tar and feather him.
Tie each leg to a horse facing in opposite direction,
Set him on fire and beat both horses,
until they tear him apart.
In front of the male, female and nigger infants.
Both whip and beat the remaining nigger males within 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 Willy 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 they sent for Mr. Lynch to teach them his methods.
The word "lynching" came from his last name.
His methods were very simple, but they were diabolical.
Keep the slave physically strong,
But psychologically 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 is all you need to know about me, Mr. Lowe.
Class dismissed.
- Wanna dance? - Yes.
Come.
You're good dancer.
Thank you, I practice in my room.
Keep it.
- Excuse me, your punch. - Thank you.
It's better I go to get me some punch.
Here. Take my if you want. It's good.
All right?
You know, I can take you to a place where's real music, right?
- I'm not living 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.
What's the matter, you afraid?
Mr. Tolson.
Mr. Tolson!
And tell them the sharecroppers are just wage them
So they don't have to slip their farms on substitute
And that's why the Southern Tenant Farmers Union want you to organize.
To make things right.
- Well, how? Strike? - They'll be just bringing the mexicans.
We'll organise them too.
Yes, so they could shoot us all down, white, colored and mexicans.
That is exactly what they want you to believe.
The farmer boys want you to believe that...
...they'll make war, but they won't.
They may be fools but they are 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 100 colored sharecroppers for trying to organize.
- That was 1919, friend. - There was my dad and 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- Relations Board,
- We've got the A. F. of L. (American Federation of Labor). - You ain't got shit.
He ain't got shit.
Hey they come! Hey they come!
Get the lights! Everybody get down.
Come on. Let's go.
This way.
Come on. All right.
What are 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! Are you listening?
You can not 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 Sacred Bible I won't tell anybody.
Jesus...
Come on.
Junior...
Are you just gonna stay in there?
No, sir.
Sorry, I'm late.
You're sorry? Is 1 o'clock in the morning.
I've been looking everywhere for you.
I went to Mr. Tolson's house after dance.
I thought you might have done that. That's why I went over there.
I talked to Ruth. She said, Tolson was gone and that you weren't there.
Son, I give you another chance. Where were you?
- I can't tell you, sir. - Good Lord, boy.
We've been 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, coming up in my house...
...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. - Mum, nothing is the matter.
Now, something is the matter, something is wrong.
Were you with that girl, were you 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 question on what I just said, boy.
- Mum, what about school? - And don't raise your voice!
I'm not raising my voice.
You're gonna raising your voice in the house?
I am not raising my voice!
You do for me the job, pay all the wages? Are you a man, now?
- I'm not not raising my voice! - Just apologise!
I didn't say anything what shall I apologise.
Like you apologized that pig farmer?
What you said, boy?
You go to your room.
Junior...
I'm not going to be weak on this, Pearl.
I know.
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 than me. Don't he look well?
Yes, sir. You look really good.
Now we've got some white fellows from up north coming to our town.
These turn 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 make a union? How do you boys feel about that?
I don't know sir. I really don't know much about that.
It's a bad idea. It's 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 swear to me? - Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I swear.
All right, then.
See you later.
Our first debate...
...is one week from today.
PAUL QUINN
- One week? - That's right.
I thought Prairie View is first.
Prairie View is tough, so I thought we're needed to warm up.
With the best negro college in the State?
That's right, Mr. Burgess. Is that frighten you?
Yes, sir.
One week is not enough time to write our arguments.
You do the research, I write the arguments.
Wait. You? You write the arguments?
And you deliver them, Mr. Lowe.
What the hell do I look like, a mailman?
Hell is where you're headed if you question me again.
In theory you look like a student.
So what you're saying is I'm not capable?
Is not a matter of competence it's a matter of experience.
- How do I know you...? - I write the arguments.
That's the way has been, that's the way is going to be.
Any more questions?
One week.
I'm bringing to you our first affirmative debater...
From Paul Quinn College:
Oquery Hobert.
Resolved. Unemployment's relief should be ended,
When the depression ends.
If the depression ends.
I've traveled back through the history to 1536,
when the first followers of England were mandate.
In those days the dole or welfare as we call it.
Was founded by voluntary contributions.
But as time passed...
...the English devised the allowed system.
The first unemployment relief.
Only now it was paid but involuntary contributions.
More commonly known as taxes.
The allowed system was a disaster.
Don't need real unemployment relief as to give a man a job.
But to do that you have to give economy life.
Not tax it to death.
When capitalism was young
the old puritanical concept to duty was:
He who does not work so not eat.
And that made sense when it was more work than men willing to do it.
But those days are gone.
Now there are many who want to work, but find themselves standing in breadlines.
Now should they not eat?
Because there are no jobs?
People, today we need a new concept to duty.
The right of the individual to demand from society
is just as much as he gives to society.
We clutch on anything that even looks like a solution.
60 million dollars on month for public relief.
Pay it out if it'll sweep the hobos off the streets.
One seventh of the population of the US are on welfare.
Fine, as long as it ends our misery.
A nation as desperate as this...
...is a danger to itself.
Once, a Roman general brought peace to a rebellious province...
...by killing all its citizens.
Even the stalled 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.
A brilliant young woman I know was asked once
to support her argument in favor social welfare.
She named the most powerful source imaginable.
The look in a mother's face when she can not feed her children.
Can you look that hungry child in the eyes?
See the blood on his feet from walking barefoot in the cotton fields?
Or do you ask his baby sister with the belly swollen from hunger,
she cares about her daddy's work ethic?!
He is good.
Wiley! Wiley!
The only thing that matters that big fish and little fish,
and the color of the fish does not count.
WON 2. LOST 0.
If in the state of Missisipi was turned a head each and every time a negro was lynched.
You've seen the Federal Government intervene?
WON 3. LOST 0.
Wiley! Wiley!
WON 6. LOST 0.
And the winner is... /Fisk University/
Wiley College.
WON 8. LOST 0.
WON: Infinity.
WILEY COLLEGE DEBATERS NEW CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
That's right captain, I think I've got the ring leader.
All right, if that's what you want.
Yes, 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 on paper.
Yeah. We do all of the work and they get all of the glory.
I guess that's the way the world is.
Am I right Samuel?
I've an announcement to make. Excuse me.
Recently I - ahm, we -
Sent some letters to some major universities.
Told them all about us, our team, what we've been doing,
And yesterday we've got response.
From Oklahoma City University.
- Are they a...? - Anglo-Saxons, yes.
We'll be the first negro college in America,
Well, one of the first negro colleges in America,
To have a debate in a white college.
All right.
University of Oklahoma.
Not University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma City University.
The debate will take place at an out-campus site.
Wait. At out-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 allow us in the 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 just is gonna give us a crumb out of his plate.
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, and the people chasing you 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 rumours about what you're doing.
My dad just called Dean last week.
And asked what is a communist doing and teaching at a good Methodist College.
My polics are my business, Mr. Burgees
and I 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 anything.
If my parents...
I'm sorry.
Mr. Tolson, please. Just tell me you're not a communist. Otherwise...
Otherwise what?
My father said I have to quit.
- Nobody wants that. - Then tell me.
As I said, my polics 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.
I know you'll win.
All right. Well...
If anybody else wants to quit, I'll understand.
MOUNT SINAI.
Resolved: The 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 negroe's 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 that all together.
Consider the legal and historical record.
May 13, 1865, sergeant Crocker, 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 Roberts.
1920, The New York Times announces that the "n" in "negro"...
...would hereafter be capitalize.
To force upon south what they are not ready for,
would result in nothing but more racial hatred.
Dr. 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 to pelt a powerful majority to do...
/...what they're determined to not to do."
My opponent so conveniently chose to ignore the fact,
That W. E. B. Du Bois is the first negro who receved a PhD,
From a white college called Harvard.
Dr. 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 chain, and Miss Booke here'd be running from out of an asset.
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.
But 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 is on reckoning...
...the state is currently spending 5 times more...
...for the education of a white child...
...than in the spending to educate a colored child.
That means better textbooks for that child than for that child.
I say that's a shame.
But my opponent says today is not the day...
...for whites and coloreds to go the same college.
To share the same campus.
To walk in the same classroom.
Well, would you curently tell me when is that day gonna come?
Is it gonna come tomorrow?
Is it gonna come next week? In 100 years?
Never?
No! The time for justice, the time for freedom and the time for equality...
Is always, is always right now!
Thank you.
What is this?
I told you is holy wine, but hairy in the chest.
- If you say so. - Good, ain't?
You will bat on me as if you'll need it.
And my weapon were 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 know. I'm fine.
- How are you doing, Pearl? - Pearl.
How do you do, I'm just like you. And where's your husband?
He is in the study.
- Dr. Farmer. - Congratulations Melvin.
- Thank you. - You put all this on the map.
Well, your son is doing great job, his researching 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 bit suprised to find out,
When in the mornin' 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 and he goes to jail.
A rich businessman steals barns, he goes to Congress.
I think that's wrong.
And that makes me radical, a socialist, a communist...
Amen. Amen on that.
- Jesus was radical. - Careful.
- Yes, he was, Jesus was radical. - Careful.
Mental institutions are filled with people who confuse themselves with Jesus Christ.
You confess to Jesus Christ now?
You confess to Jesus Christ? You know what words do.
- Come on now. - Amen.
Don't wanna confuse yourself with Jesus Christ.
No, I am not confused, I'm convinced.
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? What? Does he want to be involved? You tell me he wants to involved?
No, he doesn't. Maybe this is something you should discuss with him.
I'm discussing here with you right now and I don't feel like I'm getting the straight answer from you.
No, you're getting a straight answer...
I think that you were there with him that night.
- He was not with me. - He is a 14 years old boy.
I understand that, James.
And I'll do whatever I have to do to protect him, you understand that?
Do anybody thirsty?
- Thank you, thank you. - You're welcome.
- Ruth, this is a fine party. - Thank you.
I think it's time for some sweet potato pie.
- Please. - I help you with that.
Not the time to talk about it.
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
It's so beautiful out here.
Yeah.
I was born near here, up by the lake Jefferson.
I come here since I was a little boy.
Your parents still live around here?
No, they're gone.
My grandparents raised me.
My papa here spent his live building levels around here, for free of course.
He was a slave?
My grandma was always telling me that,
Be good or else the Confederates will rise up
out of the Marshall cemetery, and get me.
What?
I've just never seen this side of you before.
What side?