"When African American poet Mel Tolson (Denzel Washington, who also directs) creates a debate team at historically black Wiley College in the 1930s, he pushes the team to a level of excellence that allows them to take on Harvard University. But despite public success, personal clashes foment as the father (Forest Whitaker) of one of Tolson's students (Denzel Whitaker) begins to resent his son's loyalty to his coach."