HBCUnews
Debate Team Gets
Big Check From
Denzel
MARSHALL,
Texas (Dec.
19) – Denzel
Washington
is donating
$1 million
to Wiley
College to
re-establish
its debate
team.
The gift was
announced
Tuesday by
school
officials.
Washington
was in
Marshall
last week to
screen "The
Great
Debaters,"
the story of
Wiley’s
1930s debate
team. He
stars as
educator and
poet Melvin
Tolson, who
led the
all-black
college’s
elite debate
squad.
During his
appearance,
the
52-year-old
actor-director
said he
would like
to see the
team get
going again.
Marshall is
a city of
about
24,000,
located 140
miles east
of Dallas.
Wiley has
about 900
students.
"The Great
Debaters"
opens
Christmas
Day. It has
been
nominated
for a Golden
Globe Award
for best
picture
drama.