The art of debate has a long history that can be traced back to the
philosophical debates of Ancient Greece. Its current history, however,
goes back to the
Age of Enlightenment
in the 18th century. Debating societies began cropping up in London by
the mid-18th century and debate topics touched on all aspects of public
life and thought.
Interestingly, and importantly,
major African American speeches date from this era as well, when thought leaders began
addressing the public on issues ranging from
slavery to
education to involvement in public life and educating society on
moral imperatives. Oratory and debate are vital skills in any community, but especially one that strives to galvanize action to
redress grievances.
Melvin B. Tolson, poet, educator, columnist, and politician, created and nurtured an award-winning debate team at
Wiley College in
Marshall, Texas. The Wiley Forensic Society had a ten-year winning
streak and broke the color barrier when, in 1935, they competed against
the University of Southern California and won.
The
rich tradition of debate and oratory in America continues today. Many
people think of debate only in terms of candidates running for political
office. However, formal debate is an integral part of the education
system and plays an important role in the intellectual growth of a new
generation leaders. In 2008, two young men made history by being the
first African Americans to win a national college debate championship. Dayvon Love and Deven Cooper were the products of the
Baltimore Urban Debate League (BUDL). BUDL was founded in 1999 by the
Open Society Institute. BUDL is the largest of the urban debate leagues, which now include over 400 schools in 16 of the nation's cities. Engaging in the art of debate has turned around the lives of many young people and enriched the communities in which they reside.
