Debate Is Missing Black Excellence—Here's How We Fix It

I still remember my first tournament like it was yesterday. I was a small, wide-eyed freshman shaking in the dress pants and heels I had borrowed from my mother. Like every other novice competing, with clammy palms reading last-minute speeches off my school-issued Chromebook, I had no idea what I was doing or how I’d make it through the tournament without messing up. 

Round after round, other than noticing how Lincoln Douglas was not the event for me, I quickly realized I was the only Black person in the room each time. As I awkwardly observed the faces of my opponents, judges, and even my teammates, I couldn’t help but wonder— “why are there so few Black people in debate?” 

4 years and an event change later, I find that this question I had in freshman year remains relevant.  Friendships gained and trophies aside, the lack of brown faces around me has always made me long for a community of people who understand and empower the experiences I face as a Black debater in the South. But it’s not just me.

According to the NSDA’s membership database, compared to 93.28% of debaters of other races, only 6.72% of students are Black. In most circuits, especially in more rural areas, there’s a major gap between Black debaters and debaters of other races. When I asked Idara Etuks, a competitor at the 2024 NSDA Congress final rounds, she noted, “We are pretty scarce. I would be in multiple rounds where I was the only Black girl or the only one that wants to focus on competing in Congress. ” 

This extends farther than just competitors, as judges too face the same gap. Jomiloju Epoyun, former extemper/congressional debater, and current congressional debate coach, observes that in his time being a judge on the circuit, he hasn’t found many Black judges in the debate space, saying that he could "really only think of [himself] and Makai Henry of Nova High in Florida who are Black and regularly judge the circuit and have a high presence in it."

Considering the lack of diversity within the competitive pool in combination with a lack of Black and Brown judges, Black debaters are left without a sense of community or feeling seen in spaces with so many people who don’t share their same experiences or care to learn, making the activity a lot more lonely. In addition, with a higher presence of Black competitors and judges in speech events, more and more students are inclined to join those spaces where they feel more represented, leaving debate events stripped of more Black debaters.

Besides an absence of community, without  Black voices in debate, advocating for and ensuring the fair treatment of those in debate goes unheard. It creates what Jomiloju Epoyun calls, “ a white man’s game,” especially on the elite national circuit, where anti-blackness can thrive and Black debaters face undeserved docked points and lower ranks. 

One of the biggest instances where I witnessed this was in my own experience competing in a final round at a tournament last year. The moment that I started getting up to speak or ask questions, there was a significant hostility and aggression I felt from the non-Black debaters I was being questioned by or asked questions to. There is always some hostility in every round due to the sheer competitiveness of the activity, but at this particular tournament, I noticed that I was getting the majority of this treatment as the only Black debater in the room. One competitor, in particular, even sat down in the middle of me, answering his question, leaving me dumbfounded. 

After the long drive back, I checked my ballots and the screen reflected at me showed a judge’s only evaluation of my performance was how I was far too aggressive and disrespectful to my fellow congressmen for merely debating assertively like everyone else had been doing. As a result, not only was I denied any constructive feedback, but my ranks were significantly lowered. Meanwhile, other competitors who consistently overpowered and bullied others were met with praise and high ranks instead.  After that experience, it felt like no matter how well I performed, I would always be reduced to the stereotype of the angry, aggressive Black girl in every round I competed in, with little support or community to lean on.

Beyond impacts on tournament results, all of the microaggressions, comments, and biased ballets all mix into a toxic force that only drives more Black debaters out of the activity. Whether you are aware of it or not, everything we say, and everything we do, has an impact and plays a role in the systemic racism that already brews in the nation. As for debaters who are forced to deal with this treatment in the debate space, a lack of representation and the anti-Blackness that results from it makes what is supposed to be an enjoyable activity into an exhausting and debilitating one.  More Black voices are imperative if we wish to make the debate community a safer space for Black competitors. 

I want to make it clear that despite there not being many of us in the debate space, success is still possible and has been achieved by numerous Black debaters. Trailblazing competitors like Fadhil Lawal, Congressional Debate House and TOC champion, Awa-Bilan Amarreh, Congressional Debate Senate 8th placer, Jayla Jackson and Emani Stanton, Harvard International Debate champions, have all made strides to inspire future generations of Black debaters in the community.

As the 2024 South Carolina public forum state champion, Haven Gandsy expresses, while debate can be a very inclusive activity, failing to recognize the bias and microaggressive behaviors within the community can be counteractive to what debate should be. Ignoring the problem isn’t making it go away, so what do we do to make a difference?

The solutions are simple, but take effort from all sides of the debate community. 

Create a more welcoming space: While other factors like costs or resources may prevent Black competitors from joining debate, a large reason why people don’t stay in debate events is that they don't feel comfortable doing so against anti-Blackness and bias from their peers or judges. So, we can tackle this by making an effort to make Black students feel more welcome in the community.

As judges, it’s important to take a minute to stop and reflect on how you regard Black debaters in your evaluations. Consider any stereotypes you may preconceive about Black debaters in a round. An easy way to do this is by asking yourself, would I have this same criticism of a debater who wasn’t Black? 

Noticing these pre-judgments and how they may influence how you treat or assess performances helps tremendously to ensure that you don’t place those biases unfairly onto debaters and their ballots. Don’t hesitate to hold competitors you notice perpetuating anti-blackness and racism within their behavior in and outside of rounds accountable for their actions. 

As non-Black students, start considering how you can truly be an ally. The next time you encounter a Black debater in your round, take the time to get to know them for who they are beyond stereotypes. It can be as simple as having a short conversation with them or including them in community activities. If you see something, step up against others who perpetuate anti-Blackness and correct them. Making a real effort to consider how you can be an ally to Black debaters makes all the difference in eliminating the traumatic experiences and biases so many face in this activity.

Increase access to resources: Sometimes those who wish to participate more in debate are blocked by a lack of an established team or well-funded program at their school. This makes it imperative that there is easier access to the resources and support needed for more Black and Brown students to make their way into more tournaments and succeed.  As Idara Etuks explains, having access to these tools is crucial because “once you get good, you don't feel that isolation anymore…people recognize your success and work to be with you.”

Organizations like the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues and the Brooklyn Debate League are both dedicated to opening up doors to quality coaching and support for Black and brown debaters to thrive and feel empowered within the community. Moreover, Equality in Forensics also offers free coaching, tournaments, guides, and other resources dedicated to giving debaters in need the tools to succeed on the national circuit. 

From one Black debater to another, know that your struggles and experiences don’t define who you are as a person or a debater. With so few of us in these spaces, it is imperative to continue to use your passion and perspective as your superpower in every round you step into. Having the courage to persevere, not only allows us to share our experiences and perspectives to advocate for real change in our world but also inspires and invites others to not feel afraid to join debate. As Haven Gandsy emphasizes, “Debate can be a very great way to push for our voices to be heard and learn how to be heard in a society that silences us.”

The fight for representation is an ongoing battle. While this issue is so much bigger than you or I, we can make it just a little lighter by being willing to make the debate a more welcoming and safe space for all debaters to thrive.