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Emily

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Emily
Intro: As a society, people are quick to draw conclusions about certain individuals based on their physical appearance. Many times, it is a misconception of what the individuals being judged are actually like. While searching for a movie that demonstrates individuals’ behavior and their positive or negative interaction within a society, I came across The Great Debaters. The Great Debaters was an inspiring movie that exemplified struggle as well as determination to overcome challenges placed by ignorant and closed minded individuals. It is a motivational movie that proves that anything is possible. What mainly interested me to this movie is the fact that just because one is viewed as less than others, change is always possible through hard work.
Summary:
The Great Debaters is a movie that involves the harsh reality of racism during the 1930’s through 1960’s. Racism has always been an everlasting damaging problem in humanity. It is not only the belief that one racial group is superior over another but also the belief that if an individual possesses certain qualities then that individual is considered worthless therefore they should be subordinates to the other group. During a time of separation within a nation, four individuals demonstrated that importance and strength behind knowledge. In The Great Debaters, three young college individuals were led by a knowledgeable professor in a debate team. Mr. Tolson was a strong willed individual who stood up for what he believed. He taught these acute students how to be proud, confident, and intellectual. They became resourceful and discussed many topics other people were unwilling to talk about. The debaters not only struggled to remain unified they also had to deal with the harsh reality of racism in the South from witnessing unfair treatment of the law to a lynching of an African American. Through his rigorous teaching methods and their determination to be the best, Mr. Tolson led the debaters to become



Cited: Brown, Rosemary. Overcoming Racism and Sexism-How? Ottawa, 1990 Dred Scott Decision. Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia. Copyright 2012 www.ushistory.org/us/32a.asp Macionis, John J. Sociology. Boston: Pearson, 2010. Print. Plessy v. Ferguson. http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0163_0537_ZS.html

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