The Great Debaters - Jurnee, Nate, Denzel "Cool to be Smart"

BlackTree TV Executive Producer, Jamaal Finkley sits down with the phenomonal cast of The Great Debaters to discuss history and making history and making being smart a cool thing.

Believe in the power of words.

From two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and an ensemble cast lead by Washington that includes Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, comes THE GREAT DEBATERS. Inspired by a true story, THE GREAT DEBATERS chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington), a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political views.


In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson's debate team receives a groundbreaking invitation to debate Harvard University's championship team The film is directed by Denzel Washington and stars Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, Nate Parker, Denzel Whitaker, and Kimberly Elise. "The Great Debaters" was written by Robert Eisele and produced by Todd Black, Kate Forte, Oprah Winfrey and Joe Roth. Presented by The Weinstein Company, "The Great Debaters," will be released by MGM on December 25th.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Denzel
• Washington
• Oprah
• Winfrey
• Whitaker
• Forest
• Jurnee
• Somollett
• Nate
• Parker

[clemperry1]

This film emphasises why all Black people around the world should strive to educate and exhert themselves in every way possible. Making sure they are equipt with not only the knowledge, but the confidence to stand up strong amongst anyone they should meet. God, is the only judge! Brilliant film, brilliant actors... its inspired me to reach new heights.

Elizabeth - London UK

[AlwaysBeMyThunder21]

Nate is so good looking! they all speak so well! I love this movie

[zabbok]

@slovakmath they were saying "noose" and its plural "nooses".

[NiKKiBSEXCii]

This movie made me want to better myself as a black girl.

I mean it just hit me, idk maybe it's just me. Anyways the cast

was amazing and this movie is amazingly epic :)

[AmericansMakeMeSick]

I'm an african american from Las Vegas, working as a Dental Nurse in Sydney, Australia now. I never use excuses of being from the "GHETTO"...hold back any of my dreams. Thus why I'm here excelling further beyond I could ever imagined.

[misseducated25]

I totally agree with Elizabeth....it should inspire us, as African Americans to achieve higher goals. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same mindset and its quite sad.

[slovakmath]

@blacktreemedia 4:55 and 5:18 what are they saying? they are saying a word I cant understand. thx

[nONo1AnDoNly]

@army2k08 No one said u have to have aids to be an activist for it, in fact I am an activist for aids, I was just asking a simple question because I was unsure if the information I received about Jurnee having hiv/aids was correct. Please don' t jump to conclusions, Thank you.

[army2k08]

@nONo1AnDoNly Why do you have to have AIDS to be an activistist for AIDS causes?

[bphi215]

jurnee grew up to be a fine looking young lady, i hope she's never in the news, except for somethin good

[nONo1AnDoNly]

doesn't jurnee have hiv/aids ??

[1kingOmar]

Blame BET ...