IntroductionConflict is inevitable in any personal relationship or between members of any group. Although we face many types of conflicts throughout our lives, we often look for ways to avoid them. So why do we run away to resolve our conflict? This is often because many of us fear that the conflict will escalate into a situation that we will not be able to sustain. “As conflicts intensify, they undergo certain progressive transformations. Although these transformations occur separately on each side, they affect the conflict as a whole because they are usually reflected in the other side. As a result of these transformations, conflict intensifies in ways that are sometimes extremely difficult to undo” (Pruitt and Kim 89). We see many of these intense moments of escalating conflict throughout the history of The Great Debates. The Great Debaters is based on the true story of three African-American students facing escalating racist conflict in the 1930s, with their English college professor, Melvin B. Tolson, bringing them together to create the first team of African-American debate. An outspoken Wiley College professor who courageously challenged the discriminatory Jim Crow laws of the 1930s, Tolson recognizes that his young debate students possess the spark of a new generation. Convinced they could bring about great change if they had the confidence and tools to do so, the tireless educator implores his students to take responsibility for the future while furtively attempting to protect them from his clandestine role as organizer of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union. The leader of Tolson's promising young students is a 14-year-old prodigy named James Farmer, Jr. Farmer's father, James Sr., is a famous ... middle of paper ... and he managed to take down the the escalation of the conflict they faced; they also had the opportunity to address the racism and oppression they have experienced over the years. Works CitedBuchanan, Jason. “The plot and synopsis of the great debaters.” Reverend of the Great Debates. Filmfone. AOL Inc., May 13, 2008. Web. July 11, 2010. Pruitt, Dean G and Sung Hee Kim. Social conflict: escalation, impasse and settlement. 3rd ed. 2004. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2004. Print. The Great Debaters – Blacks should be admitted to the same college as whites. Denzel Washington. MGM, 2007. YouTube. Internet. July 11, 2010. Watkins, Karen. “When colleagues clash.” Journal of Training and Development, 2003: 26-27. Internet. July 11 2010.