Mbtlinks

Melvin B. Tolson

[ 1898-1966
]

Links

James
Farmer talks

about Melvin Tolson

in a
1986 public

conversation at the

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library

Raymond Nelson

Editor with Rita Dove of

“Harlem Gallery” and Other Poems of Melvin B.
Tolson

Gwendolyn Brooks

Negro Digest

September 1965

This short but cogent review is below:

Many
Tolson scholars reference Allen Tate, as well as
the Lorenzo Turner review.

Allen
Tate : “Opinion”

Preface
to

“Libretto for the

Republic of Liberia”

Claude
McKay’s Art:

Review of

Selected Poems

of Claude McKay

Words
for a Vast Music

Review of

Libretto for the

Republic of Liberia

After
describing the difficulties of writing honestly,
Richard Wright

recommends five books including Tolson’s Rendezvous
with America:

“Richard
Wright Describes the Birth of Black Boy”

New
York Post, November 30, 1944

Includes images of Langston

and of Tolson as Mayor,

plus
a short video on

Tolson by Paige Dillard.

Grandson Tells of ‘Debaters’ Coach Tolson’s
Legacy

links
to an audio recording and transcript of December
31, 2007

from
the website:

Ken Tolson is the real-life grandson of Melvin B.
Tolson, whose work as an educator, mentor and poet
is highlighted in the new film The Great Debaters.
The story gives moviegoers a look at the life of
Tolson, and the all-black debate team that
historically defeated an all-white team in the
1930s.

from
the website:

The Great Debaters is based on the true story of
Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College in
Texas. In 1935, Tolson inspired and led the
university’s first African-American debate team to
compete in the national finals and beat the
University of Southern California. His grandson,
Ken Tolson, shares his grandfather’s story and
Melvin Tolson’s impact on society.