What side?
You seem so calm, so peaceful.
I think the lake does it to me.
I am happy when I'm up here, you know?
It's funny...
A part of me wants just to stay out here by the lake, you know.
To read books all day, hunt or fish when I get hungry.
And the other part want to go everywhere and see everything.
I want to go to New Orleans, and New York, and Chicago,
...and even San Francisco.
So I wanna go... walking down the road...
...and disappear.
Maybe you can take me with you.
- Come, over. - What?
The schoolband is playing in the outside.
What? Oh my 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 gonna go get Mr. Tolson and Samantha head back to the campus
And have a paper hour.
Come on, get dressed.
You know, you go get Tolson and I meet up you a bit later on campus.
Come on, Lowe. You know it's gonna be fun...
I guess I tell them you're gonna join us later.
He's gonna join us later.
/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 (Southern Methodist University), 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.
I am ready now.
Mr. Tolson, I do not mind if James...
What's wrong?
Maybe I'm tired of this.
Of what?
Of watching another people debate.
When am I get a chance to prove myself?
You are the best researcher, James.
We could not do this without you.
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 stringed.
Mr. Tolson!
Where is he?
- Calm down, Henry. - Have you seen him?
No, they don't let us.
- Ain't did unto you, did they? - No, we're fine.
Good day.
I am dr. James Farmer, Wiley College.
This is William Taylor, Mr. Tolson attorney.
- And this is his wife, Ruth. - Hello.
I'd like to see my client, please.
William.
- Sir Dozier, dr James Farmer, this is... - Hello William.
How are you doing today?
- Fine, sir. And you? - Not too bad, not too bad.
Me and William we go a way back. I knew William when I was a boy.
Could I see my client now, sheriff?
Your client?
The fact of the business is, William that your client is kind of busy right now.
Busy doing what?
Sheriff, sheriff.
It's a situation...
- Get some boys out there. - Right. Men!
Let him go, let him go...
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 wild up about nothing.
One of us is liable to get hurt. If you catch my drift.
Sheriff, it is clear that you have not 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 floor of Tilmuch barn.
It was a peaceful and lawful gathering of sharecroppers,
Who were brutally attacked by a gang of violent vilagers.
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 can not speak for those people outside.
An unjust law is no law at all.
What does that mean?
A mass-slaughter of citizens.
Both white and colored...
by Texas Rangers.
It's that really what you want as a Sheriff of this county?
Now if you'd let Tolson go home,
I believe, I believe these folks outside...
...they 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 (Southern Methodist University) has canceled.
University of Georgia sounds like they will follow soon.
Why?
I've been blacklisted.
They're talking about censoring me,
Dean claiming the board have asked me to...
Stop working with 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...
I mean he was unbeatable,
because any time he was thrown down to the Earth that 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 is a 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 says so? No!
I am diametrically oppose to that.
My message to you is to never quit.
We are not quiting.
Good.
What do you wanna 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 the whole of respect.
Harvard ain't gonna debate us.
Not a little 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 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 (Univ.)
If we eliminate Howard...
...we will have beaten the two best negro colleges in Amierica.
I can guarantee you that I will see to it that Harvard does not ignore that.
All right?
Yes.
- Look forward on that, you don't see on that? - I've been looking all the time.
- Prairie View, Texas. 127. - You show me where I look, 'cause it's not on.
127, near Waxer Hutch.
- It's not there. - Is there, you just can't find it.
I see 2 and I see 7.
Right, now look for 1 in front of this and you get it.
After 126, Before 128.
I really don't think... Where you get this map?
What are you doing?
I'll come down.
Back in the car, shut the door.
Nobody move.
Get down, get down.
Get down, too.
There is a negro in that car.
Come on, let's pick it.
All right. Everybody sit tight and...
...I'll get the keys.
- How you doing, Mrs. Baker? - I am fine.
- Are you all right? - Yes, M'am.
- Nice if you come in. - Thank you.
Henry.
Henry!
Hi baby, how you doing?
Still waiting for me?
What's the matter baby? Come on.
Baby!
Samantha!
Shut up, let's go.
- Where? - Shut up, let's go.
- Where we going? - Next room.
Got him, Mr. Tolson.
Ok, sit...
Come here.
Give me a hug.
Stop.
/...what I see, great big nigger hanging on the tree...
You're worthless...
What?
You think you are the only one hurt?
Ok, I'm sorry...
For everything...
For drinking...
I apologise.
I'm not talking about me.
You're right.
I'm gonna talk to her.
No, no. You won't allowed. She doesn't need to see you like this.
No, is ok. I'm just gonna talk to her...
Can you leave me alone?
Calm down, boy. Stop.
Stop. I am not playing with you.
Calm down.
You're crazy?
You're never gon' forgot what you saw up there, you understand?
You're never gon' forgot what you saw up there.
Can hang and they easy tore off you sometimes sometimes they cut all of your fingers off,
Your toes, your nose, your ears.
Sometimes they cut your coverts off.
Sometimes they skin you alive.
You'll never be able to forget.
What do you think he did?
He did not have to do nothing James, he did not have to do nothing.
In Texas, they lynch negroes.
Do you understand?
So it doesn't matter how good we are, doesn't?
What do you talk? What?
This is all useless.
What are you talking about?
We're just a bunch of negroes debating each other on subjects we all agree on.
James, don't talk like that. All right?
- Why not? - Because you can't.
Not you.
Bye. God bless.
Where is Samantha?
She's not going with us.
Why not?
What do you think?
I took her to the bus-station.
She wanted to 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 crime,
than any other race in America.
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.
Our next debater from Wiley College,
Mr. James Farmer Junior.
Mr. Farmer.
Mum.
Honey!
Hi!
So...
We lost.
I'm sorry.
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 historical 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 are not undefeted any more. - Doesn't matter.
We wish to extend an invitation to...
We wish to extend invitation to debate Harvard Crimson,
Here in Cambridge.
Let us know if this is agreeable to you.
- Don't tell anybody. - 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?
Can 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 the last minute.
No, sir. She did not walk out on us.
She walked out on me.
It's a good tea.
Resolved:
Capitalism is a immoral. You will be arguing 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 cheese, fried chicken, black peas for good luck,
red beans and rice, corn-bread, candy canes, I put some peach cutlet in there too.
And red pudding too. I know that you don't like pudding but I put it anyway.
Thank you, mom.
Good luck, son.
Dad...
Yes, Junior.
You get bolster by regards, yeah?
Yes sir.
Come on, train's leaving.
Coming.
- Bye mom. - Bye bye.
I love you.
We love you, too.
All aboard.
- I'm not going with you. - What?
I can not leave the state. It's a condition of my bail.
You can't let them stop you.
They're not stopping me.
I just don't wanna jeopardize your opportunity.
You did want without me, this is what you wanted to do all along. Isn't it?
It's right.
Why didn't you tell us before?
Because I didn't want to hear your arguments. I knew they'd be too good.
All right, Mr. Lowe. You are in charge.
Whatever your instinct will tell you, you listen.
- Yes, sir. - Let's go.
What we supposed to do without you?
Win.
I thought someone supposed to meet us.
- Wiley College? - Yes.
I'm Harland Osbourne. 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 Booke. - Of course, Miss Booke.
We should be going. My car is up front.
- I've got it. - Thank you.
Just so you know we're staying on campus in Douglas Hall.
I got to tell you, this debate is stiring up a lot of excitement.
- Really? - Oh yeah.
It's gonna be broadcast all over America.
- Can we see where we gonna debate? - Of course.
Hello, Harvard.
Excuse me.
You suppose to be here?
I guess we'll find out. Won't we?
Look, Mr. Farmer.
5 dollars?
Lowe, I've got 5 dollars.
Yes, I did, too. It's called "per diem".
- Want me to hold it for you? - No, not my 5 dollars.
I've got 5 dollars. I've got 5 dollars.
Yeah, me too.
Well, mine is crisp.
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 this wrote? - From Harvard.
Maybe it's more money.
We have been informed, by Tau Kappa Gamma that your team delivers...
Canned speaches...
Arguments has written by faculty rather then 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 helped 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 sent us up to loose.
We can't win without him.
You're wrong. We can't win 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...
Agreed, James. But we'll save it for the red button. We gonna save the best for last.
Because you have to... You have to lead the audience...
I think we should include this Ghandi concept with Satyagraha...
I don't agree. I don't think people can understand Satyagarha... or Such a gar...
Satyagraha. From the Sanskrit, meaning truth and fairness.
I told you.
It's obvious to me that we should begin debate with Ghandi.
That's exactly what I won't do it.
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 when you say "disobedience"...What's the first thing?
That's why we chose Ghandhi! He's a strong poet.
I wanna win. Do you wanna win?
Yes, I wanna win.
This is not getting us the way out.
Tolson told me I was in charge. Ain't put you in charge.
He put me in charge, so I make the decision.
We will not starting with Ghandi.
You act like a kid!
- You are a kid. - You are an idiot.
- Am I an idiot? - Yes, you are an idiot.
To hell with you, to hell with this debate.
To hell with me? Just because I've just leaved you?
Crazy, you!
- He's coming back, isn't he? - See if I care.
You're beautiful when you sleep.
Yes, I know, I know...
But she ain't stop me from looking at you.
Shut up and go to bed.
James, come on, wake up.
No.
James...
Come on James, get up.
What?
What is this?
That's my notes.
Why are you giving on to me for?
Because you're debating, not me.
What?
It's your turn, James.
You're serious?
- You're crazy. - 14 is just as good as me.
Judges will love you.
No, you can't quit.
I'm not quitting Samantha.
Tolson made me captain, and I said that you are ready.
You saw me at Howard, it was horrible.
That's right. You did it horrible, didn't you? Stuck-up the whole joint. Right?
So she just quit, right? She just give up?
No.
Who is the judge?
What?
Who is the judge?
Judge is God.
And why is he God?
Because he decides who wins or loses, not my opponent.
Who is your opponent?
He doesn't exist.
Why doesn't he exist?
Because he is a mute dissenting voice of 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's 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.
/Harvard's Dean and students are making their ways to the podium now.
/The crowd as if were cued fall silent.
/On this historical occasion...
/We welcome the distinguished /team from Wiley College,
/the 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, its 5th President of the US.
/But no University, no matter how grand or august in its history
/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 Booke Mr. James Farmer Junior.
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's depend on one's definition of the words.
Word.
In 1919 in India, 10,000 people gathered in Amritsar...
to protest the tyranny of British rule.
Has it started?
Your brother's talking, just sit down.
/General Reginald Dyer, /traped 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.
Ghandhi and his followers responded not with violence,
But with organised campaign of non-cooperation.
/Government buildings were occupied,
/Streets were blocked by people /who refused to rise.
/Even being beaten by police.
Ghandhi was arrested.
But the British were soon forced to release him.
He called it "a moral victory".
The definition of moral:
Dyer's lesson, or Ghandi's victory?
You choose.
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.
35,000 hours.
8,281,000 casualties.
240.
Here was a slaughter immeasurable greater that what happened in Amritsar.
Can 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 the mask civil disobedience wears
to conceal it's true face.
Anarchy.
/Ghandhi believes one must always act
/With love and respect for ones opponents.
/Even if they are Harvard debaters.
/Ghandhi also believes that law-breakers...
Must accept the legal consequences for their actions.
Does it sound like anarchy?
Civil disobedience is not something for us to fear.
It is after all an American concept.
You see, Ghandhi draws his inspiration not from a Hindu Scripture,
But from Henry David Thoreau who I believe graduated from Harvard,
And lived by upon not too far from here.
My opponent is right about one thing.
Thoreau was a Harvard grade,
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 the day,
Not a majority of one.
Majorities do not decide what is right or wrong.
Your conscience does.
So why should us citizens surrender his the whole conscience
/To a legacy.
/We must never, ever kneel down...
Before the tyranny of a majority.
We can't decide which laws to obey, which to ignore.
If we could, I'd never stop for a 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 dads face.
Nothing...
That erodes the rule of law
can be moral.
No matter what name we give it.
Why doesn't he say something?
In Texas...
...they lynch negroes.
My teammate and I...
Saw a man strung by his neck.
and set on fire.
We drove to a lynch mob.
We 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 to 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.
/In tonight debate...
/Between Harvard University,
/And Wiley College.
And the winner is...
Wiley College.
Just 7 years later in 1942 James Farmer Junior
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 Booke, 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 continued his work with Southern Tenant Farmers' Union.
By the end of 1936, it had 31,000 members in seven states.
For ten years the Wiley College debate team went undefeated.