The Denzel Washington Wiley debate team story is getting fresh attention, nearly 20 years after the actor made his promise. A new look at the program, reported by EURweb from a PEOPLE feature, shows how his $1 million commitment helped bring a dormant debate squad back to life at Wiley University in Marshall, Texas. No new gift has been announced. This is a look at what the money built.
The History Behind The Great Debaters
Melvin B. Tolson started the Wiley debate team in the 1920s, and the squad became a powerhouse. From about 1929 to 1939, it debated 75 times and lost once, according to the Associated Press. In 1935, Wiley beat the University of Southern California, the reigning national champion. The film “The Great Debaters” swapped in Harvard as the opponent, but the real foe was USC.
