The Great Debate League: Recent Episodes
Dr. Bruce Strouble, Albert Lowe, and Ebony Johnson
The Great Debate League is a Live Debate Podcast that allows for competitive intellectual exchanges, using factual information from credible sources, on numerous topics.
With roughly 70% of Black American children living in single-parent households, many have suggested that U.S welfare policy damaged the Black Family structure while others have placed blame on other social issues. On Wednesday, September 1st, 2021, affirmative debater Kimani White argued the premise that "Welfare diminished the Black Family Structure against negative debater Jony Espinal
Do black people just need to learn how to play the game better or be given a livable wage in order to improve our lives and community?
GDL 19 took place on Thursday, August 19 2021 with the premise that Financial literacy is more significant than liveable wages for determining economic stability for African Americans.
Affirmative Debater: Arthur Parker, a native of Saint Augustine, FL, Black financial literacy advocate, and educator.
Negative Debater: Dr. Mu-Tor K. Flood, a native of Brooklyn, NY, is a Visiting Professor in Psychology at Bethune-Cookman University.
The notion that the United States was founded on racism deeply disturbs some Americans and yet justifies the lifelong experiences of others. Critical Race Theory examines the systemic racism in America, but how do its teachings benefit Americans?
On Thursday, August 5 at 9 pm EST for a debate on the premise: Critical Race Theory is helpful to Americans in general.
Affirmative Debater: Native of Denver, Colorado and Executive Director of Shop Talk Live, Inc., Theo Wilson
Negative Debater: Native of Brooklyn, New York, and Seventh Day Adventist theologian, Justin Wilson
Throughout the course of the history of the United States, racism has been an undeniable factor. Currently, many people are questioning if America itself is Racist. Land of the Free? Home of the Brave? Depends on who you ask.
On Thursday, May 27 at 9 pm EST a rigorous debate on the premise that The United States of America is fundamentally a racist Nation took place.
Arguing the Affirmative was Pasadena, CA native and founder of Citizens for a Sustainable Future, Dr. Bruce Strouble, Jr. Arguing the Negative was Los Angeles, CA native and crypto consultant, Immanuel Lewis.
"All spiritual practices are illusions, created by illusionists to escape illusion." ~Ram Dass~
Many spiritual teachers suggest that our freedom lies in the spirit realm. Others say that spirituality is just a way of escaping reality and not truly dealing with what has long ailed us. On Thursday, April 29 at 9 pm EST Sacramento, CA native with a degree in Biology, Tre Scott affirmed his premise that; Spirituality is a form of escapism for many African Americans. Kansas City, MO native, lawyer and educator, Catina K. Taylor argued the Negative.
"We won't organize any black man to be a Democrat or a Republican, because both of them have sold us out." Malcolm X How do we effectively organize our political power? There is a growing desire to form our own party in order to be heard. However, many political instructors teach that we have a greater ability to join in with a current party and make our demands, rather than isolating ourselves into inefficiency. On Thursday, April 15 at 9 pm EST Inglewood, California native and founder of The United Afro Student Organization, Jaylon Jones Affirms his premise that African Americans would have greater political influence if they created their own political party. Alex Blocker of Irmo, South Carolina and recently elected to the Youth Senate for Young Voices USA argued the Negative Position
Throughout American history, there has been a looming argument that racism is merely a figment of the Black American imagination. While countless Black Americans report experiencing hostile oppression and systemic discrimination due to their skin color some suggest that these are often random occurrences of unfortunate events. On April 1st, 2021, Brooklyn-based Theological Scholar Justin Wilson debated the premise that "Black people exaggerate their experience of Racism in the U.S" against Kansas City Missouri's renowned Professor of African American History A.J Lowe.
"There is no hierarchy of oppressions." ~ Audre Lorde Or is there? When it comes to gender, prominent feminists say that gender oppression is the primary discrimination that trumps all others. And that once this is resolved, everything else will align. However, historians protest that America is built on racism and it is embedded in everything that we live. Until racism is given its proper attention, we are doomed. And then there's the intersectionality of it all! On Thursday, March 4th at 9:00 pm EST Funmilayo Ekundayo, mother and aspiring travel journalist, debated her premise that Gender oppression is more of a significant challenge than Racial oppression in the United States of America, against activist and revolutionary, Cameron Montgomery.
Get rich or die tryin' is a motto that many Black Americans chant in hopes to realize a better life in their society. But just how do we get rich? Some modern day scholars advise entrepreneurship. However, the benefits of the practice of Black Capitalism in America have historically been in question. What about the merits of fighting capitalism with socialism? On Thursday, March 18 Pasadena, California native and student of Dr. Claude Anderson's Powernomics, Brian Thorne affirmed his premise that Black Capitalism is a beneficial practice for Black People in America against Chicago native and self-educated, Kenny Barnes.
Historically, Black Americans have found themselves consistently under the threat of White terror. Some observers have determined that this continued experience has rendered African Americans traumatized and so fearful that they are unwilling to take a stand against White Oppression. However, others are suggesting that while the fear may be a result of oppression, it is not the root cause that prevents Blacks from overcoming racial oppression. On Thursday, February 18, Professor of African Psychology, Dr. Mu-Tor K. Flood, took the stage to face Oakland California’s veteran civil rights activist Thulani Deskins to debate the premise: Black American’s collective fear of White people is the primary obstacle preventing Black Progress.
"It's about getting what we deserve in this country." ~Ice Cube. With this statement in mind, Ice Cube presented his now infamous, Contract with Black America. Upon hearing of it, some Black Americans were in support of having this plan to present to politicians who want our vote. However, others questioned Ice Cube's character and ability to lead and put forth such a policy changer. On Thursday, November 12, 2020, Revolutionary Pan-Africanist, Diallo Kenyatta, defended his premise that, Ice Cube's Contract with Black America is not a viable plan, against Human Rights Activist, Dr. Bruce Strouble, Jr.
Turn on the news, take a walk through your neighborhood and you will likely see a Black Lives Matter sign. Some ask, but what has the movement actually achieved? Perhaps they've done more harm than good. Some counter, they are raising much-needed awareness to the plight of black folk; and have no greater obligation than any other organization. On Thursday, October 8th political science scholar, Vynessah Dasher defended her premise that Black Lives Matter is a threat to African American Progress against entrepreneur and civil litigator, Shala McDonald.
Rape is a heinous act that many have suffered. How to adequately deal with this violence is of ongoing concern. Some argue that it is an act that is socially normalized and supported within society. On Thursday, September 24th composer Devonte Thomas faces off against blogger Funmilayo Celestina Ekundayo to affirm his premise that Rape culture does not exist in the United States of America.
In their inception, women's sports were thought of as safe spaces to allow fair competition between individuals who were scientifically classified as females to participate in athletic competitions. However, recent calls for the inclusion of Trans Women in women's sports has resulted in intense disagreements about fairness and justice of such decisions. On Thursday, August 27th activist Marquise Rosier faced off against sports enthusiast Tre Scott to affirm his argument that Bans of Trans Women from Women's sports are unjust.
One of the most contentious areas of human discourse centers around the use of corporal punishment on children. There is a wealth of research that shows some correlation between spankings children and an array of negative behaviors late in life. However, there are some who argue the research is flawed and fails to clearly identify spanking as the sole cause of any negative behaviors. In this debate Data Analyst, Esther Anglade argued her premise that spanking leads to negative outcomes for Black children against Social Work Professional Linda Spence.
A longstanding argument in the African American community has centered around the role that Feminism has played in the weakening of the Black Family Structure. Several pundits have made the assumption that feminist ideals coupled with racist social policies exiled Black men from their families leaving behind a fractured community. However, Black Feminist scholars and activists have pushed back against this assertion noting that calls for gender equality were only a threat to those who wanted to uphold the patriarchy and continue the oppression of Black Women. On Thursday, July 30, 2020, 9:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, the Revolutionary and Activist Jainabah Lumumba Phillips returned to the Great Debate League Stage to defend her premise that Black Women’s acceptance of feminism contributes to the destruction of the Black Family Structure against educator and activist Catina Taylor.
For many Americans, the Electoral College is a critical component of the United States Political System. For others, it’s an outdated relic that allows for Oligarchy to pose as a representative democracy. On July 9th, 2020 at 9:00 pm outspoken pundit Ryan Fernandes defended his premise that abolishing the Electoral College System would weaken American Democracy against esteemed historian A.J Lowe.
It is a common understanding that Racism has been directed by Whites to Non-Whites historically. The inability of Blacks to impose systemic oppression on Whites has prompted calls for improved definitions of the term. Furthermore, this has resulted in many Black scholars asserting that Blacks can not be Racist. However, some have claimed that this is a misguided development that makes Racism harder to identify. On Thursday, June 25th at 9:00 pm Kenny Barnes argued that an appropriate definition of Racism will not include Black people as perpetrators. Dr. Strouble presented the negative argument.
For some African Americans, Police violence serves as a continuing reminder of America's legacy of racial injustice and oppression. However, there are many within the African American community who believe that Black people are their own greatest enemy. On Thursday, June 18th at 8:00 pm eastern standard time Kevin Minus defended his premise that “Black on Black Crime is more detrimental to African American communities than police brutality” against Cameron Montgomery.