Greetings again from the darkness. We are all well aware of what entitlement looks like, and in this documentary, co-directors Gabriel London and Charlie Sadoff take a look at what the other side can look like. These students are born into high-risk areas – crime and poverty surround them, and education is not always a priority. It’s the Washington Urban Debate League that opens doors for these students.
The word “immutable” is defined as something not subject to change. Well, that’s not the word to describe these students, but rather the opportunities available to those who dedicate themselves and put in the work. College scholarships become possible, and at a minimum these students learn that persuasion is a learned skill. For viewers unfamiliar with the world of competitive academic debate, brace yourself.
The film opens with Debate Camp in the summer of 2022. We follow a group of young newcomers. They lack confidence and must learn the finer points of research, argument structure, and delivery. The “Spreading” approach is stunning to watch. Combining ultra-fast talking with reading the argument is a strategy designed to trip up the other team. However, reaching proficiency in this rapid-fire approach takes hours of practice … as does learning that one must often make an argument on the opposite side of personal belief on a topic. And therein lies an unspoken value to this entire community. Just ask any parent, every teenager knows how to argue a point they believe, but learning there are at least two sides is an invaluable experience.
We hear from parents, teachers, coaches, and students on the value and benefits of debate. Further that, we witness the difference in these students from that first Debate Camp through the January 2024 tournament – a qualifier for TOC (Tournament of Champions). The pressures are as obvious as the desire to compete. One particular student has been diagnosed with autism, yet her determination and skill is beautiful to behold. The program is all the more impressive when you understand that participants are intentionally not drawn from a pool of “A” students. And therein lies the true opportunity to reach greater levels. Honing the skills for competitive debate is, at its core, training in communicable interactions … a worthy life skill.
Airing on PBS beginning March 6, 2026
Movie Reviews from the Dark 