Urban Debate Launches in Tampa

The NAUDL is working with the School District of Hillsborough County to launch an Urban Debate League in the Tampa Bay area in the fall of 2008.

Inspired by the recent Denzel Washington film The Great Debaters, prominent Tampa attorney Barry Cohen is providing the crucial leadership for establishing debate programs in Tampa’s urban schools.

On May 15, Mr. Cohen sponsored a select viewing of the film for 250 Tampa students. A special guest at the viewing was actress Jurnee Smollett, who won the 2008 NAACP Image Award for her female lead performance in the film and is a passionate advocate for the NAUDL's mission.

Mr. Cohen cites the powerful benefits that participants will derive from debating: “[The debaters will] learn to communicate, learn to articulate, learn to be educated. [They will] learn to turn knowledge into power and to be able to deal with violence and bigotry.”

Tampa resident Doug Williams, the first African-American quarterback to win the Super Bowl, has thrown his support behind the project, as well: “I don’t think there are too many jobs out there that if you’re not able to debate that you can do the job.”