Transcript for the Piece Audio version of No Argument Here

No Argument Here: Reviving Collegiate Debate

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

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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.

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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 coaching the debate team, Tim teaches a seminar on James Farmer who spent his last decade as a history professor at Mary Washington. Tim, remind us of who James Farmer was, and the role he played in the civil rights movement?

(Voice for the Book Festival: Author Phyllis Theroux reads aloud from her new book, Journal Keeper: A Memoir. In this passage, Phyllis shares some of her experiences at the Virginia Festival of the Book and the impact of the written word on all our lives.)

(Tim O’Donnell interview)

Coming out this year is a documentary on the life of James Farmer from his college years to the final chapter of his life as a faculty member at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

[Music: “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off”]

Tim O’Donnell is a professor of communications at the University of Mary Washington and he coaches the debate team there.

Coming up next: To serve the living, funeral directors and the African American way.

From slavery to the present day, African American funeral directors have orchestrated funerals or “homegoing” ceremonies with dignity and pageantry. As entrepreneurs in a largely segregated trade, they were among the few black individuals who were economically independent. Suzanne Smith is a professor of at history George Mason University. Her new book, To Serve the Living: Funeral Directors and the African American Way offers a history of how African American funeral directors were an integral part of their community including the struggle for civil rights.

[Interview: Suzanne Smith]

[Music: “My Man’s an Undertaker”]

Suzanne Smith is a professor of history at George Mason University and the author of "To Serve the Living: Funeral Directors and the African-American Way."

Support for With Good Reason is provided by The Boar's Head of Charlottesville, featuring the ITA National Men’s Team Indoor Tennis Championship—Friday, February 12 through Monday, February 15. Additional information on the calendar at boars-head-inn dot com.

You’re listening to With Good Reason. Elliot Majerczyk and Jesse Dukes are our associate producers. Andrew Wyndham is our executive producer. Nancy King creates our feature capsules. Jeannie Palin handles listener services and Lydia Wilson is our publicity coordinator. We had help this week from Jonathan Cherry of WAMU. With Good Reason is produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. For a free copy of this show on CD, call 877-451-5098. I'm Sarah McConnell, Thanks for listening.