The Great Debaters

About The Great Debaters

The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.

The Great Debaters is a 2007 drama film directed by Denzel Washington. Its themes are racial segregation, inspiring story, white supremacy, and anti-racism.

Denzel Whitaker takes the lead as James Farmer Jr., Denzel Washington as Melvin B. Tolson, Nate Parker as Henry Lowe, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Samantha Booke. It runs 126 minutes and was released in December 2007.

The screenplay is by Robert Eisele. Produced by Harpo Films. It is adapted from real events. In the United States it streams on Angel Studios.

BlacKkKlansman, The Imitation Game, and American Sniper make useful companions to The Great Debaters, all filed under biography and racism. TMDB voters put it at 7.3 out of 10 across 753 votes and it carries a PG-13 rating.