The Great Debaters

When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.

The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.

Drama

Denzel Whitaker

(James Farmer Jr.)

Denzel Washington

(Melvin B. Tolson)

Nate Parker

Jurnee Smollett

(Samantha Booke)

Forest Whitaker

(Dr. James Farmer Sr.)

Kimberly Elise

Jermaine Williams

(Hamilton Burgess)

Gina Ravera

John Heard

(Sheriff Dozier)

Devyn A. Tyler

Trenton McClain Boyd

(Nathaniel Farmer)

Ritchie Montgomery

Jackson Walker

Tim Parati

Robert X. Golphin

Justice Leak

(Harland Osbourne)

Glen Powell

(Harvard Debater #1)

Brad Watkins

(Harvard Debater #2)

Brian Smiar

Damien Leake

Voltaire Sterling

(Paul Quinn Debater #1)

Stephen Rider

(Paul Quinn Debater #2)

Gordon Danniels

(Paul Quinn Debate Judge)

Donny Boaz

(Oklahoma City College Debater #1)

Samuel Elliott Whisnant

(Oklahoma City College Debater #2)

Bonnie Johnson

Charissa Allen

Michael Beasley

Gary Mathis

George Wilson

Fahnlohnee R. Harris

Harold Evans

(William Taylor)

J.D. Evermore

(Captain Wainwright)

Sharon Jones

Kelvin Payton

Southey Blanton

(White Labor Organizer)

Michael Mattison

(White Sharecropper #1)

Jeff Braun

(White Sharecropper #2)

Milton R. Gipson

(Prairie View Professor)

Frank Ridley

(Security Guard)

Jeremiah Kissel

(Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate)

Jack Radosta

(White Man at Lynching)

Alvin Youngblood Hart

(Juke Joint Musician #1)

Dom Flemons

(Juke Joint Musician #2)

Justin Robinson

(Juke Joint Musician #3)

Rhiannon Giddens

(Juke Joint Musician #4)

Ahmad Powell

(Fisk Professor)

Marcus Lyle Brown

(Howard Debater #1)

Gary Mattis