No Argument Here

Image by: Library of Congress

James Farmer

No Argument Here

From: With Good Reason
Length: 00:29:00

A college professor is following the footsteps of a civil rights icon James Farmer, by training his students in the art of debate. Lydia Wilson, of the radio program "With Good Reason," has more. Read the full description.

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Piece Description

Civil Rights icon James Farmer's skilled oratory was shaped in part as a member of the legendary debate team portrayed in the 2007 film, The Great Debaters. Timothy O’Donnell is furthering Farmer's footsteps by developing high-quality debate teams at historically black colleges and universities. Also: As entrepreneurs in a largely segregated trade, African-American funeral directors were among the few black individuals who were economically independent. Suzanne Smith, in her book, To Serve the Living, shows how their financial freedom gave them the ability to support the struggle for civil rights as well as bury the dead.

Transcript

No Argument Here: Reviving Collegiate Debate

(film clip begin)

Denzel Washington’s 2007 film “The Great Debaters” retold the story of the upstart debate team at Wiley College in Texas:

[film clip continue]

Denzel Washington depicts real life debate coach Melvin Tolson who recruited and motivated the young James Farmer who later became a leader in the civil rights movement. I’m Sarah McConnell and today on With Good Reason, the arguments for reviving collegiate debate.

(film clip end)

Later on today’s show, we investigate the role of the funeral in African American culture.

(Suzanne Smith clip)

But first, Tim O’Donnell is a professor of communications at the University of Mary Washington and he coaches the debate team there. He says a rigorous background in debate helped civil rights leaders like James Farmer and Malcolm X shape persuasive arguments. In addition to coachin...
Read the full transcript