The Great Debaters is a 2007 film produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, based on an article about the Wiley College debate team by Tony Scherman written for American Legacy for its '97 Spring issue. It is directed by Denzel Washington who also stars in the film along with Forest Whitaker , Kimberly Elise, Denzel Whitaker , Nate Parker , Gina Ravera, and Jurnee Smollett. The screenplay was written by Suzan-Lori Parks and Robert Eisele. It was released on December 25, 2007.

mantha: The state is currently spending five times more for the education for a white child than it is fitting to educate a colored child. That means better textbooks for that child than for that child. I say that's a shame, but my opponent says today is not the day for whites and coloreds to go to the same college. To share the same campus. To walk into the same classroom. Well, would you kindly tell me when that day is gonna come? Is it going to come tomorrow? Is it going to come next week? In a hundred years? Never? No, the time for justice, the time for freedom, and the time for equality is always, is always right now!

mes Farmer Jr.: [opening package] Five dollars? Lowe, I got five dollars! nry Lowe: Yeah, I did too. It's called per diem. Want me to hold it for you? mes Farmer Jr.: No, not MY five dollars. mantha: [walks into the room waving her money in the air] I got five dollars! I got five dollars! nry Lowe: Yeah, me too. mantha: Well, mine is crisper. atches James gulp down a strawberry] mantha: James, this is high tea, all right? We nibble, we do not DEVOUR. mes Farmer Jr.: How do you know? mantha: [smiling] I don't.