HBCU National Speech and Debate League

The HBCU National Speech and Debate League is dedicated to developing and fostering significant educational opportunities and benefits for students of Historically Black College and Universities.

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Overview

The HBCU National Speech and Debate League is a nonpartisan 501c3. The HBCU National Speech and Debate Leagues mission is to develop and promote speech and debate education and competition at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Speech and debate education and competition is the most profound pedagogy ever created. Speech and debate education has proven effective in building critical thinking skills, improving communication skills, increasing reading and writing scores, teaching empathy, promoting civil discourse, and preparing students to be global citizens. Speech and debate competitors are widely regarded as some of the most qualified potential employees because of their communication skills, problem-solving abilities, ability to work in groups, and proven work ethic.

Developing Transferable Skills in the 21st Century

Recent research has concluded that test results from students attending some of the most prestigious universities indicate little or no critical thinking improvement. Experts find academic institutions' failure to arm graduates with higher-order thinking skills necessary for success in the global market. Critical thinking and other soft skills are recognized as vital skills for the growing workforce within the 21st century.

Education in the United States fails to equip students with the skills to think critically, solve problems, and communicate ideas, some of the most prized skills from prospective employers. The Association for Talent Development notes that "The skills gap that has employers worried isn't the technical skills gap, but the soft skills gap." A recent survey of business leaders from LinkedIn revealed the soft skills that employees are most lacking are:

Critical thinking and problem-solving.
Adaptability and flexibility
Communication
Leadership
Innovation and Creativity

Cultivating critical thinking and other soft skills should be a primary goal of the American education system. Critical thinking facilitates evaluation of others' arguments and their own, conflict resolution, and complex problem-solving. Thus, critical thinking is the foundation of progress, both personal and institutional.

Speech and debate education has many well-documented benefits. These benefits include higher academic achievement, higher grades, familiarity with new ideas and language, civic engagement, critical thinking, building career readiness, leadership aptitude, critical listening, purposeful inquiry, problem-solving, reading, and writing.

What we teach?

Critical Thinking

Actively and skillfully evaluating information is an essential foundation of an informed citizenry.

Creativity

Expanding perceptions of self and the world creates fertile grounds for effective problem-solving and innovation.

Communication

Effectively exchanging ideas, information, and emotions has the power to reduce conflict, promote dignity and respect.

Respect

Dignity and reverence for others and diverse points of view is essential to civil discourse and effective advocacy.

The Benefits of Speech and Debate

Debate education has many well-documented benefits. These benefits include higher academic achievement, higher grades, familiarity with new ideas and language, civic engagement, critical thinking, building career readiness and leadership aptitude, critical listening, purposeful inquiry, problem-solving, reading, and writing, and Peterson (2014) notes, “Debate fosters skills to “effectively navigate civil society, evaluate argumentation, and arrive at solutions to social problems” (p. 22).

Speech and debate programs afford many profound educational benefits such as increased grades; increased test scores in reading, writing, and critical thinking; and heightened confidence and presentation skills. Speech and debate also provide tremendous social benefits such as free speech, advocacy, and the ability to see and articulate social struggles from multiple perspectives.

Services and Activities of the National HBCU Speech and Debate Association

At a time when the discussion over the relevance of HBCUs rages across the country; the pedagogical advantage of speech and debate can help students to succeed at every level of their career. The National HBCU Speech and Debate Association will provide unique opportunities to build speech and debate programs at HBCUs, as well as to grow speech and debate training on a grand scale for students of color. The Association will provide an opportunity for students at HBCU to practice free speech, the creation of more informed citizenry, more educational opportunities for participants, the restoration of a long and celebrated tradition of speech and debate at HBCUs, and the ability to prove the relevance of HBCU education.

The HBCU National Speech and Debate League is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding sections of any future federal tax code.

The HBCU National Speech and Debate League is operated for charitable and educational purposes, including:

HBCU Speech and Debate Competitions - Consistent competition is the driving force for students to maintain the continual and determined practice, with a practical goal. Tournaments give students gratification, recognition, and aspiration for which to strive. Learning and education become the product of the ambition to achieve.
Providing Scholarships to students participating in speech and debate competitions at HBCUs.
Professional Development - Providing professional development services for educators and educational institutions engaged with speech and debate competition as well as the Debate Across the Curriculum teaching methodology.
High School Outreach - The HBCU National Speech and Debate League strives to create recruitment opportunities through high school outreach and summer camps that teach speech and debate.