"The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite."
Denzel Whitaker
as James Farmer Jr.
Denzel Washington
as Melvin B. Tolson
Nate Parker
as Henry Lowe
Jurnee Smollett
as Samantha Booke
Forest Whitaker
as Dr. James Farmer Sr.
Kimberly Elise
as Pearl Farmer
Jermaine Williams
as Hamilton Burgess
Gina Ravera
as Ruth Tolson
John Heard
as Sheriff Dozier
Devyn A. Tyler
as Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd
as Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery
as Deputy
Jackson Walker
as Pig Owner
Tim Parati
as Pig Farmer
Robert X. Golphin
as Dunbar Reed
Justice Leak
as Harland Osbourne
Glen Powell
as Harvard Debater #1
Brad Watkins
as Harvard Debater #2
Brian Smiar
as Harvard Dean
Damien Leake
as Wilson
Voltaire Sterling
as Paul Quinn Debater #1
Stephen Rider
as Paul Quinn Debater #2
Gordon Danniels
as Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz
as Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Samuel Elliott Whisnant
as Oklahoma City College Debater #2
Bonnie Johnson
as Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen
as Benita
Michael Beasley
as Trudell
Gary Mathis
as Enormous Man
George Wilson
as Samuel
Fahnlohnee R. Harris
as Clementine
Harold Evans
as William Taylor
J.D. Evermore
as Captain Wainwright
Sharon Jones
as Lila
Kelvin Payton
as Joseph
Southey Blanton
as White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison
as White Sharecropper #1
Jeff Braun
as White Sharecropper #2
Milton R. Gipson
as Prairie View Professor
Frank Ridley
as Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel
as Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate
Jack Radosta
as White Man at Lynching
Alvin Youngblood Hart
as Juke Joint Musician #1
Dom Flemons
as Juke Joint Musician #2
Justin Robinson
as Juke Joint Musician #3
Rhiannon Giddens
as Juke Joint Musician #4
Ahmad Powell
as Fisk Professor
Marcus Lyle Brown
as Howard Debater #1
Gary Mattis
Kevin Beard
as Klansman at Lynching (uncredited)
Robert Eisele
Writer
Director
Kate Forte
Producer
Valeria Scoon
Associate Producer
Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producer
Oprah Winfrey
John Breinholt
Editorial Coordinator
Hughes Winborne
Editor
Joe Roth
Todd Black
Melody Fowler
David Crockett
Molly Allen
Co-Producer
Jeffrey Porro
Story
Bob Weinstein
Austin Anderson
Animal Coordinator
Patrick Tendai Pfupajena
Production Assistant
Sharen Davis
Costume Design
Karen Golden
Script Supervisor
David J. Bomba
Production Design
John R. Jensen
Art Direction
Patrick Cassidy
Set Decoration
Denise Chamian
Casting
Jono Oliver
First Assistant Director
Eric Norris
Stunts
G. Marq Roswell
Music Supervisor
Joe Nin Williams
Russell Towery
Greg Hale
Second Assistant Director
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Jodie Stern
Assistant Costume Designer
Andrea Young
Hairstylist
Unit Production Manager
Bobby Beckles
Gregg Brazzel
Jim Henry
Steven Ritzi
Stunt Coordinator
Lex D. Geddings
Robert Powell
Stunt Double
Thirl Haston
Stephen A. Pope
Denise Pugh-Ruiz
Assistant Makeup Artist
Kenneth Walker
Hair Department Head
Frances Jacques-LeCompte
Seamstress
Nikki I Brown
Makeup Artist
Valerie Gladstone-Appel
Assistant Hairstylist
Andrea Bowman
Angela Demo
Casting Associate
Tateum Kohut
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Greg Orloff
Dana Kay Hart
Costume Supervisor
Mitzi Haralson
Set Costumer
Carl Fullerton
Makeup Department Head
Christopher Gray
Extras Casting
Jack English
Gaffer
Gary Damian Thomas
Storyboard Artist
Kim Drummond
ADR Supervisor
Scott G.G. Haller
Dialogue Editor
John Marquis
Sound Effects Editor
Jerry G. Henery
Construction Coordinator
Riki Lin Sabusawa
Key Costumer
Gary A. Theard
Boom Operator
Natalia Anderson
Production Secretary
C. Alan Rawlins Sr.
Key Grip
Co-Editor
Xiomara Comrie
First Assistant "A" Camera
Christian Juneau
Extras Casting Assistant
Geraud Brisson
Additional Editor
Elizabeth Rainey
Foley Artist
Brian Smith
ADR Mixer
Nannette Palmer
Set Medic
Mark La Bonge
Steadicam Operator
Frederick Shear
Assistant Accountant
Kali R. Harrison
Second Second Assistant Director
James Babineaux
Best Boy Electric
C. Alan Berry
Props
Valerie Bleth Sharp
Production Supervisor
Yvonne Bastidos
Linda Lazar
Kei Rowan-Young
Location Manager
Tiffani L. Stephenson
Camera Loader
Diah Wymont
Alison Cannon
Production Accountant
David Hickey
Payroll Accountant
"A" Camera Operator
Larry M. Cherry
Nicki Johnson
Assistant Production Coordinator
Anne Scott
First Assistant Accountant
Jamie Horwitz
John Bankson
Property Master
Virle S. Reid
Assistant Property Master
Erin Oakley
ADR Editor
Jon Wakeham
Herwig Maurer
Anita Cannella
Dean Allison
Construction Foreman
James Passanante
Paint Coordinator
Giselle Spence
Cid Swank
Unit Publicist
Pamela Rittelmeyer
"B" Camera Operator
Matiki Anoff
Key Makeup Artist
Janice Hudson
Willie D. Burton
Sound Mixer
George Bott
Additional Second Assistant Director
Natalie Ballesteros
Casting Assistant
Jack Lynch
Special Effects Supervisor
LaToya Henderson
Stephen Beasley
Rigging Gaffer
Alex Borys
Assistant Location Manager
Amy Kane
Carmine Rubino
Foley Mixer
Sean J. O'Shea
First Assistant "B" Camera
Frank Perry Rose
Costumer
Belinda Anderson
Key Hair Stylist
Jacob Ross
Best Boy Grip
Darryl Humber
Dolly Grip
Rob Simons
Assistant Art Director
Rick Kline
Ted Moser
Transportation Coordinator
Jacob Riehle
First Assistant Sound Editor
Tim Tuchrello
Todd Kasow
Music Editor
Barbara McDermott
Kami Asgar
Supervising Sound Editor
Sean McCormack
Scott Childers
Lois Yaroshefsky
Studio Teacher
Helen Britten
Assistant Set Decoration
Dorian Cheah
Sound Designer
Fred Peck III
Sound Recordist
Howard London
Howard Berger
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Larry Misselhorn
Greensman
David Lee
Still Photographer
Ted Sapp
Key Rigging Grip
Jeffery D. Woodrel
Special Effects Coordinator
Jonathan Klein
Foley Supervisor
Greg Nicotero
Ryan Misselhorn
Justin Nance
Transportation Co-Captain
Eryne Prine
Assistant Sound Editor
Richard A. Davis
Transportation Captain
Brian McNulty
Post Production Supervisor
Second Assistant "A" Camera
Gary Tolbert
Aerial Director of Photography
Jeff Valeri
Production Coordinator
Riko Schatke
Christina DeCharles
Tommy Samona
Leadman
Shellie Gillespie
Art Department Coordinator
Dillon Jim Breithaupt
Art Department Assistant
Ian Crockett
Post Production Coordinator
Michael Dressel
Foley Editor
Philippe Rousselot
Director of Photography
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
Peter Golub