There were many similarities from the movie The Great Debaters with the two shot stories "Nightjohn" and "Mascot." One is the similar occupational choice of Samantha Booke and the boy in "Mascot." They both dreamed of being lawyers but it was much more difficult for them because of their color. The boy's teacher told him he could not become a lawyer, that he has to be realistic; but the teacher tells all of his other students they can become whatever they like, only because they are white. In the end, Samantha makes it to be a lawyer because she fought against racism.
Another was between John from "Nightjohn" and the debate team from The Great Debaters. John protested against racism and discrimination by teaching other slaves how to read and write; to then spread to the rest of the world what was happening to them as slaves. The debate team did just the same, but with words as they spoke when they debated. They educated to their audience about what needs to happen to become equal.
A third comparison was about lynchings. The debate team told everyone through one of their debates about the lynching they witnessed in Texas; just as the slaves in "Nightjohn" had to watch lynchings of other slaves when they were punished.
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