The Latino Experience in Debate - And Why There’s Not Enough of It

| 4 min read

SUMMARY: This blog explores the complexities of being Latino in debate, and the possible reasons behind the lack of Latino representation in an activity praised for its diversity. The lack of Latino representation in debate is presented as a problem that must be addressed within the debate community, and it details the experiences being Latino in an activity that even with other people of color, still feels alienating due to lack of Latino involvement.

On the day of a tournament, I check the list of entries on Tabroom without fail. Most debaters do this, whether it’s to scope out the competition, view the number of entries, or try to predict whether they will break or not. I’m guilty of these things as well, but sometimes, I unconsciously look for a third thing: the number of Hispanic last names. An oddly guilty part of me tells me it’s wrong, but another, more honest part asks: Is it really so wrong to search for names that sound like mine? Most minority groups can attest to the fact that we seek safety in numbers, and it’s entirely normal to seek out those who are similar to you and find familiarity in them. But it’s an unfortunate truth that the Latino community is heavily underrepresented in debate.

Speech and debate is an activity frequently praised for its diversity and accessibility, but oftentimes, conversations surrounding diversity in debate tend to exclude the Latino perspective. Even in an objectively diverse room with other people of color, Latinos continue to be excluded. A close friend of mine—and, oddly enough, the first other Latina I debated almost a full year into my debate career—opened up to me about this recently, noting that, “While it may be slightly more inclusive and open for students of different backgrounds, there’s definitely still a lack of representation for Latinos, and it’s very unlikely to ever hear anyone opening up about this problem.” If debate truly were as diverse as we claim it to be, Latinos would not be nearly absent.

However, the root of the problem does not solely lie in debate; it is a product of the lack of Latino participation in extracurricular activities altogether. Studies show that Latino youth are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities compared to their European, African, and Asian American peers (Simpkins et al. 1). Even in areas where Latinos make up a significant portion of the total population, Latino involvement in extracurricular activities is sparse, in part due to a lack of encouragement to participate, as well as structural barriers. Home life plays a large role in determining whether someone will participate in extracurriculars. Time is money, and oftentimes, minority groups are faced with a lack of resources that would allow them to use their time to find fulfillment in an extracurricular activity such as debate. A close friend of mine remarks, “Some huge barriers are always going to be funding (like coaches, going to tournaments, etc.), language barriers, and the fact that there are a lot of extracurriculars or potential things that they do outside of debate, like taking care of siblings.”

Unfortunately, these structural barriers aren’t limited to home life. Another Latina debater, who has chosen to remain anonymous, states, “I think for the most part, it is well known that Latinos are disproportionately enrolled in underfunded schools/school districts. Once you get to more competitive stages of debate, you notice how essential it is to have a well-funded team to remain competitive or even have a slight chance at being successful. It can definitely be discouraging after realizing that most success in debate is usually tied back to private or extremely wealthy schools that can properly fund these programs, which clearly lack Hispanic representation and participation.”

Speaking from firsthand experience, being the only Latina in the room is often intimidating. But on the rare occasions when I do find another debater with experiences similar to mine, we connect instantly. Being able to meet others who are similar to me in an activity such as debate has changed how I view my behavior in debate and the behavior of those around me. In debate, we argue so much about structural barriers, accessibility, and diversity. But rarely do we practice what we preach when it comes to making debate an accessible space for all.

Diversity in debate doesn’t only come from having a large group of people with different backgrounds. The diversity we push for must also allow people from those backgrounds to be equally represented. While we can’t solve structural issues such as a lack of funding and inequity in both debate and academics, we can change the way we treat people and, as Latinos, how we advocate for our communities and ourselves.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10888691.2011.538618