We missed this movie when it was in the theater, but caught it on DVD. It’s about a debate team at a small black college in Texas in 1935 that takes on a national powerhouse. It’s based on a true story, and was one of those movies that moved me to find out more.
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Jean is projects editor at the Post-Dispatch. She is a member of Bridges Across Racial Polarization, a group devoted to creating friendships and fostering communication among racial and cultural groups in the community. After growing up in a small town in Kansas, she lived in Kansas City and Wilmington, Del., before moving to St. Louis in 2004. She and her husband, Dan Wiggs, live in University City. 
Rachel,
Sadly in American society regardless of being “Right” or “Wrong” conversations about race usually always consist of Black and White issues because it is still the most unresolved issue in this country because of the hearts and unfair treatment of Blacks and the longevity of it within this country.
Rachel I could care less if this country named a month White History Month because truthfully all of America’s history as we are forced to learn it in our informative years in our public education system is based on White History, calling it that instead of just history would at least be a move towards honesty and it would appease ones such as yourself who do not seem to realize this due to some blindness your appear to suffer from.
In fact, it is still widely actually considered White America and only very recently appearing that White citizens are willing to be inclusive towards Blacks as holding a stake within this country as citizens. No other race has the history as Blacks in this country. Every other race that has come to this country came voluntarily and was not kidnapped and brought here. Blacks have never had a welcomed stake in this country.
Frankly, the very fact that slavery was government sponsored and condoned is the reasons for the curse that we see upon this country now and that will remain upon this country until every heart truly repent instead of screaming, get over it. Just think about Egypt and the time span of it all. It is going to take true repentance and true forgiveness for true healing.
You and others are probably thinking, I had nothing to do with slavery and I tell you, you have no clue about God or generational curses that are passed down generational until a generation gets it and truly repent because if they do not, the same like heart will plague them and this is the reason racism is still so rapid in this country. Yes it is a very ugly pass that every White generation since would prefer not facing including many Black people but, until a generation come along and faces it head on in both repentance and forgiveness this country will never free itself of all its ugly effects.
Time is running out for America and I do hope that at least all those professed Christians and churches will wake up and place aside their prideful hearts and at least stop ignoring, be in denial and just some plain pretending that all is fine with America. Greed and Black/White racism is what will be the destruction of America if people do not change.
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Rachel,
Sorry to inform you but, you are incorrect. I suppose that it was assumed that the average person would understand that this month is “Black History Month” and the reason for this thread. It is about Black racial discussion and issues in America.
So I take it within your mind that you think that February being “Black History Month” in the U.S. is racist?
D Walker, This BLOG, A CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE, was started before February, and was started for the purpose of all races getting together to discuss racial differences and how we can overcome them.
This THREAD, THE GREAT DEBATERS IS WORTH RENTING, might be about a movie that has to deal with Black People, and may have been put up here because it is Black History Month, WHICH IS FUNNY, because the movie is not accurate so really it doesn’t truly reflect History, but that is besides the point.
You make it sound like a conversation about race was started for black people, or because of black people…but it wasn’t
This is why this blog was started:
about this blog
Do racial differences matter? Beyond skin color, are there differences? Why do disparities exist? Who or what causes them? Many questions about race persist; ignoring them won’t foster understanding. We invite St. Louisans to join us for a conversation about race, drawing on the news of the day for inspiration. We’re aiming for a safe forum where you are free to be candid, but required to be civil. If you seek understanding, education and tolerance, we welcome you.
I think Black History Month should be removed, unless you want to create a White History Month as well. So yes because you would view White History Month as racist I view Black History Month as racist. Didn’t we already discuss this???
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Rachel,
Sorry to inform you but, you are incorrect. I suppose that it was assumed that the average person would understand that this month is “Black History Month” and the reason for this thread. It is about Black racial discussion and issues in America.
So I take it within your mind that you think that February being “Black History Month” in the U.S. is racist?
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The Blog is titled a conversation about race D walker. A Thread is a collection of posts.
So “The Great Debaters is worth renting” would be a Thread on this Blog A Conversation About Race.
No this blog is not just about the color black, at least I hope it isn’t because that would be racist. This was supposed to be about opening up discussions on race, be it white, black, hispanic, asian, whatever. Have most of the topics centered around black people?? Yes they have, but I feel that is the post’s doing, they could find more articles on other races, but they choose to focus on mainly just black articles.
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AmericanResolve,
Isn’t this blog about the color Black and isn’t the entire thread titled “A Conversation About Race”?
So then, why would you make such a remark as, “Always only about the color black with D. Walker”? Makes a lot of sense to you, uh, even when in fact, the conversations under this thread are about just that?
I did not ask you that question because you disagree with me but due to the above only, you didn’t comprehend that neither? Wow.
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D.Walker,
“Are you stupid or something?”
Yeah, OK D.Walker. I am stupid. Anyone you doesn’t believe in your black victimization theology and conspiracy stories is stupid. From the comments I read on this blog, most people don’t think your exactly Albert Einstein.
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AmericanResolve,
I do anything that is needed for anyone that comes across my path when I see that they are in need of anything that I am able to humanly provide them. For me helping others and being of assistance to them in helping them solving their problems is an act of worship to me, it is required of me no matter one’s race.
I myself have received this same kind kindness from friends, family and strangers when I was facing some of my darkest times and there have been more than I care to even acknowledge.
Now, have you always been known to see in such a distorted reality, such as it is always about Color with me? Are you stupid or something? (Lol). Aren’t these threads about race and Black History month? And, haven’t Blacks been defined more than anything else in this country by White Americans as being Black first and everything else secondary to that? Do you always have such a hard time recognizing what is true?
And frankly, your sister could very well be saintly but, that will not earn you even one brownie point, not even a point in heaven. Too busy? I guess most have become too busy for too long and I suppose that is why God has allowed things to be steered in the direction that we are headed. See we all are guilty of making excuses.
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D.Walker,
“Let me ask you this, what have you done personally to attempt to help a Black person who you see as a failure?”
Always only about the color black with D.Walker. I know you don’t want to believe it but there are other colors of people that need help also. Aren’t you always telling us that we are all God’s people?
My sister has been a Big Sister for a disadvantaged black teenager for several years. The girl was headed down a bad path but my sister talked her into leaving some of her bad friends behind. Has worked pretty well so far and the girl’s grades have improved considerably also. The problem is she is a teacher with no kids and has free time. Most of us have a difficult enough time keeping our owns kids straight.
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Jean,
Is this one of those white oppression/black victimization movies like Spike Lee’s “Miracle at St. Ana”? I like WW2 flicks but the race bias in that was insane. The Italians boycotted the movie it was so bad. You gotta love the Italians that don’t get race hustled like us Americans.
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing it as long as it doesn’t make whites out to be the evil demons and the blacks the poor defenseless victims.
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yes we can,
You state:
“You and those people that try to understand the human dynamic but when it comes to the group knower as African Americans. There’s no solution”.
Let me ask you this, what have you done personally to attempt to help a Black person who you see as a failure?
To be frank, you are not mentally healthy enough yourself to be of any constructive help to ANYONE. Could that be the reason why you are raising your grandchildren as you before have stated? See we must face our own demons before being of constructive help to anyone else or we just screw up those we are attempting to assist.
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Rachel,
You do not comprehend very will, do you? I never stated that awful circumstances should be justification for failure and mental imprisonments but when a person find themselves not so mentally or emotionally healthy then one must understand what it is that have scarred or distorted their outlook on life holding them back from leading a productive life or having healthy relationships or holding onto bitterness or hate or any or all of these destructive straits including them being unable to love their neighbors as they would themselves.
The problem is that too many do not mentally grow up because of abuses, they are stuck into being a child and unable to think LOGICALLY, such as you proving yourself unable to do by quoting a scripture where Paul was explaining to his disciples in [1 Cor.13:11] that the same process takes when one is born again in Christ (committing their life to Christ) as the one that took place from the time they were born naturally from the womb into manhood. Explaining that after a while it is time to give up those old ways that are not of God.
And as far as “yes we can” being the way that he is, I beg to differ with your logic or shall I say non-logic there also.
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On the movie lol, I haven’t seen it. I can’t say I have a desire to, but I really do love Remember the Titans, that movie was amazing..I actually snuck out of a lame movie to watch it for the 2nd time on the big screen. What I paid the money lol I just watched a different show.
Anyway if it isn’t 100 percent true oh well, I am sure they say it is “based” on a true story, the key being based. Hollywood has to jazz up these stories because while they are good, they just aren’t fantastic enough so they add some spice, but you should be fully aware of that when you read BASED on a true story.
Oh also Remember the Titans, perfect soundtrack, I love that soundtrack, that and The Big Chill two great movies with two great soundtracks.
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I’ve seen this movie, and it’s OK in it’s Hollywood Formulaic style. It’s almost become an annual game to predict which “against all odds” movie will be next. The formula works like this: Take an individual or group of disadvantaged kids, most commonly black, but certainly minority of one kind or another. Mix in a hard driving, gifted teacher or mentor, stir well and serve up a hit.
And, these stories can be ‘based on true events’, which usually means that some dramatic elements have been added to spice things up or make it more impressive. And yet, frequently the underlying story is plenty dramatic if one actually understood the whole story.
The problem I have with these movies, is that they build up the heroes to the point that the everyday heroes who are actually doing many of the hard things get totally ignored. It’s almost like creating a cult. Want to save a group of disadvantaged kids? OK, just find someone young and attractive who is willing to give “ALL” to the cause, and magic will happen. Unfortunately, LIFE doesn’t work that way. It’s kind of like the cult in military literature of the crusty senior sergeant with a heart of gold. Do they exist? Of course they do. But, are they representative? I don’t know.
I know, I’m sounding like a grouch. I guess I’m just tired of being told that all these poor kids need “saving”, and that they can only be saved by extraordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Mr. Walker opined:”You are just dealing with a different kind of monster than some but make no mistake, you are certainly no better or no less than any other human being, not even those who you despise.”
I want to concentrate on the last statement “who you despise” You can go back and look at all my post and you won’t see the word HATE or DISPISE use.
What I HATE IS BAD BEHAVIOR and What I DISPISE are PEOPLE that Make excuses? You and those people that try to understand the human dynamic but when it comes to the group knower as African Americans. There’s no solution. maybe another 400 years and cross pollination the USA, will be all on the dole, driving caddies, drinking Remmy ,making babies and complaining about those red necks whites that are using up all the resources intended for them. Who Knows I won’t be here!!!
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D Walker yes we can just might be a butt, it may have nothing to do with his child hood. This is the mentality we talk about people blaming their pasts for who they are today. I am not saying my past doesn\’t have anything to do with it, but I don\’t think my father not being around has to do with who I am and where I am in life. I wouldn\’t give him that much credit. I don\’t think the drunk abusive uncle I had has any say in who I am today or how I feel or treat other people.
We all can be mean, we all can be nice, when you start letting people off with excuses from their past then they will never learn. If there is one thing I am tired of is hearing my mother was a drunk, my father was never around. You know what D, a lot, and I mean A LOT of people have that kind of past, but they don\’t go around using it as an excuse as to why they are where they are in the world today.
Black, white, pink or purple you are your own person, when you grow up, you are responsible for your own future, and the choices you make both bad and good are your own doing.
You like to bring up god so much so here is a nice bible quote I find appropriate for you.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways.
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yes we can,
Have you really put your childhood behind? Doesn’t appear that way.
Also, you do not listen. No one has stated and I have certainly not stated that we should continue to keep doing things the same. It is however to understand why people are the way that they are. For example, you are the way that you are because of your childhood and until you acknowledge the effects of that childhood even though you have attempted to run far away from it, it has overtaken a part of you that you are in denial of.
You are just dealing with a different kind of monster than some but make no mistake, you are certainly no better or no less than any other human being, not even those who you despise.
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I confess, I was disappointed when I found out the debate was with USC rather than Harvard. Still, it’s still an amazing story.
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I don’t need a movie to life me up. I dug myself out and put my childhood behind, unlike the majority of children called African Americans.
They as a group “Not All” fit the reasoning of doing something over and over and expecting a different outcome, it’s a metal disorder, but the people such as Walker or Jean are enablers.
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Any particular reason the movie couldn’t be accurate, that is to say honest?
Wiley never-repeat-never debated Harvard. They did win against USC in ‘35 but depicting a win against Harvard does what-shows them whippin’ up on some really rich white folks? Like Denzel’s other “uplifting” movie “Remember the Titans” which was also “based on a true story” but has almost no truth in it. When are you gonna change the title of this blog to “a conversation about blacks?”
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Sadly, “yes we can” greatest influence in his life was his own father who beat him down. Hopefull, he will learn how to rise above his own circumstances.
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Don’t we all want to be uplifted?
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What’s your point?
I had seen the movie. It’s just another attempt to try to uplift blacks.
I can take you to University that would put them to shame.
Try something else. Get me a name of a Black Nobel prize winner in the sciences.
Surprise, Surprise there is none.
And please don’t say that white people doing the judging, cause all demes black folk not to win.
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