Henrietta Bell Wells
Henrietta Bell Wells was born Henrietta Pauline Bell on Oct. 11, 1912 in Houston, Texas near the Buffalo Bayou. She was the only female and only freshman on the 1930 team for Wiley College when they participated in the first collegiate interracial debate in the U.S. The team was coached by Melvin B. Tolson when they competed against students from the Law school at University of Michigan. Wiley won. Other debates with white schools followed, culminating with Wiley’s 1935 victory over the national champion, the University of Southern California.The character Samantha Book from The Great Debators is based on Wells.
Who is the judge? The Judge is God.
Why is HE the Judge? Because HE decides who wins or loses, not my opponent!
Who's your opponent? He doesn't exist!
Of her experience Wells recalled to the Houston Chronicle, "I told him[Tolson] I don’t know anything about debating and I don’t have any money to take off from class to be on the debate team...I was the only girl, and I was the only freshman. They [the boys] didn’t seem to mind me.”Her advice to today’s students was straightforward: “Learn to speak well and learn to express yourself effectively.”Before Wells passed, she was the last surviving member of the 1930 debate team from Wiley College. Wells was the recipient of the Omega Psi Phi Colonel James E. Young Medal of Honor, given for character, scholarship and service to Wiley College. She also did work as a social worker and was a teacher in the Houston Independent School District for five years as the first African-American teacher at Bonner Elementary School. Well was the third president of the Houston area alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Join Talented Generation as we *Salute* Henrietta Bell Wells!
2 comments:
Hanrietta's advice to “Learn to speak well and learn to express yourself effectively.” is something that I will share with my English students before the end of this semester. There are many young people in my classroom today who struggle to express themselves coherently and consequently cannot debate effectively. Without practice and immersion in an environment where standard English is the norm, or where thought provoking topics are discussed; these student's abilities to argue logically and persuade others will suffer.
Great Post!
@ "Ghost" yes her advice is something to learn to live by. Thanks for visiting!
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