The Great Debaters Page #4

No, sir.

You don't know about that?

- Samuel?

- No, sir.

- You didn't hear about that?

- No, sir.

- You swear to me?

- Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I swear.

All right, then.

See you later.

Our first debate...

...is one week from today.

PAUL QUINN:

- One week?

- That's right.

I thought Prairie View is first.

Prairie View is tough, so I thought

we're needed to warm up.

With the best negro college

in the State?

That's right, Mr. Burgess.

Is that frighten you?

Yes, sir.

One week is not enough time

to write our arguments.

You do the research,

I write the arguments.

Wait. You?

You write the arguments?

And you deliver them, Mr. Lowe.

What the hell do I look like,

a mailman?

Hell is where you're headed

if you question me again.

In theory you look like a student.

So what you're saying is

I'm not capable?

Is not a matter of competence

it's a matter of experience.

- How do I know you...?

- I write the arguments.

That's the way has been,

that's the way is going to be.

Any more questions?

One week.

I'm bringing to you our first

affirmative debater...

From Paul Quinn College:

Oquery Hobert.

Resolved.

Unemployment's relief should be ended,

When the depression ends.

If the depression ends.

I've traveled back through

the history to 1536,

when the first followers of

England were mandate.

In those days the dole or

welfare as we call it.

Was founded by voluntary contributions.

But as time passed...

...the English devised

the allowed system.

The first unemployment relief.

Only now it was paid but involuntary contributions.

More commonly known as taxes.

The allowed system was a disaster.

Don't need real unemployment relief

as to give a man a job.

But to do that you have to

give economy life.

Not tax it to death.

When capitalism was young

the old puritanical concept

to duty was:

He who does not work so not eat.

And that made sense when it was

more work than men willing to do it.

But those days are gone.

Now there are many who want to work,

but find themselves standing in breadlines.

Now should they not eat?

Because there are no jobs?

People, today we need

a new concept to duty.

The right of the individual

to demand from society

is just as much as he

gives to society.

We clutch on anything

that even looks like a solution.

for public relief.

Pay it out if it'll sweep

the hobos off the streets.

One seventh of the population

of the US are on welfare.

Fine, as long as it

ends our misery.

A nation as desperate as this...

...is a danger to itself.

Once, a Roman general brought

peace to a rebellious province...

...by killing all its citizens.

Even the stalled Romans were shocked.

One of them wrote:

"Solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant".

Which means they create

desolation and call it peace.

Now for all their facts and figures the

Paul Quinn debaters would also create desolation

And call it peace.

They would allow the unemployed to die

so the economy can live.

A brilliant young woman

I know was asked once

to support her argument in favor

social welfare.

She named the most

powerful source imaginable.

The look in a mother's face

when she can not feed her children.

Can you look that hungry child

in the eyes?

See the blood on his feet from walking

barefoot in the cotton fields?

Or do you ask his baby sister

with the belly swollen from hunger,

she cares about her daddy's

work ethic?!

He is good.

Wiley! Wiley!

The only thing that matters that

big fish and little fish,

and the color of the fish

does not count.

WON 2.

LOST 0.

If in the state of Missisipi was turned a head

each and every time a negro was lynched.

You've seen the Federal

Government intervene?

WON 3. LOST 0.

Wiley! Wiley!

WON 6.

LOST 0.

And the winner is...

/Fisk University/

Wiley College.

WON 8.

LOST 0.

WON:
Infinity.

WILEY COLLEGE DEBATERS

NEW CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

That's right captain,

I think I've got the ring leader.

All right, if that's what you want.

Yes, okey-dokey then.

Bye-bye.

- Sh*t.

- Who was that?

Captain Wainwright.

Texas Rangers?

He wants me to hold off

on picking this fellow up,

until him and his boys get up here.

Sh*t.

He wants to get his picture on paper.

Yeah. We do all of the work

and they get all of the glory.

I guess that's the way the world is.

Am I right Samuel?

I've an announcement to make.

Excuse me.

Recently I

- ahm, we -

Sent some letters to

some major universities.

Told them all about us, our team,

what we've been doing,

And yesterday we've got response.

From Oklahoma City University.

- Are they a...?

- Anglo-Saxons, yes.

We'll be the first negro college in America,

Well, one of the first negro

colleges in America,

To have a debate in

a white college.

All right.

University of Oklahoma.

Not University of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City University.

The debate will take place at

an out-campus site.

Wait. At out-campus site? Why?

Because sometimes, Mr. Lowe you have to

take things one step at a time.

So what you're saying is that

the crackers in Oklahoma...

...ain't gonna allow us in the campus?

No, what I'm saying is that you have to

take things one step at a time.

- This is a great opportunity.

- Thank you very much.

A great opportunity? The master just is gonna

give us a crumb out of his plate.

What?

I think Lowe here is afraid.

What am I afraid of, James?

I think you're afraid to debate white people.

- Anglo-Saxons.

- Anglo-Saxons.

- Thank you very much.

- Mr. Tolson let me debate.

I mean I'll debate Anglo-Saxons anywhere.

In a dark alley with no light...

...with a candle, and the people

chasing you down with guns.

Now. I'll debate

Anglo-Saxons anywhere.

- I ain't afraid.

- I am.

Mr. Tolson when I came here today.

I saw the Sheriff outside

watching your house.

What's going on?

Maybe you should

ask the Sheriff.

I've been hearing a lot of rumours

about what you're doing.

My dad just called Dean last week.

And asked what is a communist doing and

teaching at a good Methodist College.

My polics are my business, Mr. Burgees

and I promise you that

it will not endanger the team.

But, sir. It is being endangered.

I came to Wiley College to be

educated not investigated.

- I understand.

- I don't wanna be dragged in anything.

If my parents...

I'm sorry.

Mr. Tolson, please. Just tell me

you're not a communist. Otherwise...

Otherwise what?

Otherwise what?

My father said I have to quit.

- Nobody wants that.

- Then tell me.

As I said, my polics are my business.

I guess I have to resign.

Mrs. Tolson, thank you for

the wonderful dinner.

You're welcome, Hamilton.

Good luck in Oklahoma.

I know you'll win.

All right. Well...

If anybody else wants to quit, I'll understand.

MOUNT SINAI.

Resolved:
The negroes should be...

...should be admitted...

I can't hear you!

Louder!

Resolved:

Negroes...

...should be admitted...

...to state universities.

My partner and I will prove that...

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