An American actor and producer, Denzel Washington, donated $1 million to a small Texas college to help bring back a debate programme that had been dormant for decades. Seven years later, a 23-member Wiley College team won the overall title at one of the country’s biggest collegiate debate tournaments, competing against students from 80 colleges and universities.Washington donated the money to Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, in 2007 to help re-establish its debate programme, which had a long history dating back to the 1920s but had been inactive since 1947.The revival was closely connected to “The Great Debaters”, the 2007 film Washington directed and starred in. The movie told the story of Wiley’s historic debate team under the guidance of professor and poet Melvin B. Tolson.
From a dormant programme to national champions
In March 2014, Wiley’s debate team won the Pi Kappa Delta Comprehensive National Tournament, competing against teams from 80 colleges and universities at what was then the largest tournament in the organisation’s history.The Wiley team consisted of 23 first- and second-year students. After the competition, it had collected 60 awards and finished at the top of the overall standings.The victory came after a season in which the team recorded 373 tournament wins and also competed in several exhibition debates. It had also won the tournament at the Junior Varsity National Championships.The team’s success was a striking revival for a programme that had disappeared after Tolson left Wiley in 1947.The Texas Legislature later formally recognised the achievement, noting that the team had carried forward the legacy of Tolson’s original debaters. The 2014 team dedicated its national victory to the students who had competed under Tolson between 1924 and 1947.
The history behind Wiley’s ‘Great Debaters’
Wiley College’s original debate programme began after Tolson arrived at the college in 1924. His students went on to compete against some of the leading debate teams of the period, despite facing restrictions that prevented them from joining Pi Kappa Delta, the national forensics fraternity.In 1935, a Wiley team defeated the University of Southern California, which was that year’s Pi Kappa Delta national champion.The programme eventually disbanded after Tolson left Wiley in 1947.Six decades later, Washington’s film brought the story of those students to a much wider audience. The Great Debaters dramatised Wiley’s historic team and its competition under Tolson’s mentorship.Washington then put money behind the effort to revive the programme, donating $1 million to Wiley in 2007. The re-established team became the Melvin B. Tolson/Denzel Washington Forensics Society.Under coach Chris Medina, the revived team went on to build a record that extended well beyond the 2014 national title. According to Wiley, the programme has collected more than 3,000 awards since its return.
Washington’s connection with Wiley
Washington continued to follow the team’s progress after his initial donation. He regularly checked in with the debaters and visited Wiley in 2015, when he had lunch with members of the team.During that visit, Washington was presented with an honorary doctorate for his philanthropy in education, a surprise he had not expected.He later pledged to renew his $1 million contribution to help sustain the debate programme and ensure its continuation.At a later awards ceremony at Wiley, Washington was recognised for his contribution to raising awareness of debate education. He was also inducted into the newly established HBCU Forensics Hall of Fame alongside Tolson, who was inducted posthumously, and Dr Thomas F. Freeman, a longtime speech and debate coach.Washington was also joined at the ceremony by Bob Eisele and Jeff Poro, writers associated with The Great Debaters.Wiley College President and CEO Haywood L. Strickland credited Washington’s support with helping preserve the legacy of the original debaters while allowing new generations of students to continue it.
Who is Denzel Washington?
Washington is a two-time Academy Award winner whose career has spanned more than five decades. He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for playing Private Silas Trip in Glory (1989) and the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Los Angeles police detective Alonzo Harris in Training Day (2001).Alongside acting, Washington has worked as a director and producer, including directing and starring in The Great Debaters.
