Maven's Movie Pik: The Great Debaters
Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 21:38 When I saw the preview of this movie, I turned to Ron, saying “no brainer. Gotta watch that one.”
I debated throughout high school, and then with a scholarship in college. Debate and the rigors of forensic speech shaped my love for critical thinking and reasoning - and prepared me for a somewhat successful career as a Public Information Officer and communicator.
Additionally, having grown up in the Jim Crow South, this movie had all the authentic historical elements that move me. Great true story. Great actors. Great heart.
Not a single car chase, special effect, vampire or alien.
This will make a superb family movie night selection - with the proviso that kids should be about 12 and up. There is one scene - a lynching - that younger children might find disturbing. You should be ready, as a parent and educator, to discuss race relations in the early 20th century and how far we’ve come.
debaters, denzel washington, harvard, jim crow, wiley college in maven's movie pik, purely maven 