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No.224 オリジナル英文

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Actor Denzel Washington Presents Inspiring Drama of Triumph Over Prejudice
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"I am the darker brother. I, too, am America."

In the 1930's at Wiley College, a small all-Black school in Texas, Professor Mel Tolson greets his new class with the words of African-American poet Langston Hughes.

His goal is to challenge these young people to strengthen their minds; and his method is to form them into an inter-collegiate debate team.

"Gentlemen and lady, debate is combat.

But your weapons are words. "

This was a time and place in America when Black students were not welcome; often not permitted on the campuses of major universities.

But as the Wiley team scores victory after victory, they can no longer be ignored or marginalized.

"We'll be one of the first negro colleges in America to ever debate a white college.

If we defeat them, we defeat the best."

Work hard, Professor Tolson assures his debaters, and you can achieve.

"Do what you've got to do so you can do what you want to do" is how he puts it.

Along with producing and directing the film, Denzel Washington stars as Tolson; and he acknowledges that theme is a philosophy he also uses with his own children.

"I don't know if it came from me.

I must have heard it somewhere else.

But it was a theme in the movie: 'do what you've got to do, so that you can do what you want to do.'

I call it a 'sports movie.'

You know, in those days, that's what they considered it; a spectator sport.

I mean it was a very popular event to go to, so that was interesting.

The fact that there were only 360 students at this college and they were going up against these big schools.

That was very fascinating."

As he did with his debut film as director, 2002's Antwone Fisher, Washington cast talented, but relatively unknown young actors as the Wiley College debate team members.

Then Washington says he challenged them not just to portray, but to become debaters.

"Mr. Denzel was very adamant about us researching and us knowing what we were talking about and being well versed in debate, in the process of debate."

Nate Parker says that helped him and his co-stars understand a lot about their characters.

The Great Debaters also features Oscar winner Forest Whitaker as James Farmer Sr.

John Heard plays the racist local sheriff.

And the film is produced by TV personality Oprah Winfrey.

Alan Silverman for the Voice of America in Hollywood.
by danueno | 2008-01-09 16:58 | オリジナル英文


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