Melvin B. Tolson
In the film, Mr. Tolson was the African American professor at Wiley College that led the Debate Team in 1924. Melvin B. Tolson graduated from Lincoln University in 1923. He was one, of the two coaches, to flip a coin as a routine to determine whether which team would be the affirmative side of the debate.
Henrietta Bell Wells
Henrietta Bell, often referred to as Samantha Booke, was the first female debater to try out at Wiley College. In 1930, she joined the team and showed that women could proudly voice their opinion as well as men could. She, at the time, was apart of the forensic fraternity Pi Kappa Delta, with men “trying her womanhood”.
James Farmer Jr.
James Farmer was a fourteen year old enrolled in Tolson's English class. Farmer was able to start testing his mind in an analytical way after joining the debate team. He used all the skills he learned during the debate team to help him study for the ministry.
Henry Heights
Henry Heights, commonly known as Henry Lowe, was one of the Wiley College Debaters to lead the team to victory against Paul Quinn College. Heights was a very fearless and smart young man that later got attached to Henrietta Bell Wells. He is now into ministry to control demons.
Beil, Gail K. (2008) "Wiley College: The Great Debaters," East Texas Historical Journal: Vol. 46: Iss. 1, Article 8. http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ethj/vol46/iss1/8
Christian, Margena. “The Great Debaters; Film Show Art of War with Words”, 2008, http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.augusta.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=9&sid=2654f556-022a-4a18- bfba-51ba4387d5ac%40pdc-v-sessmgr05