Speech and Debate Trauma

The idea of trauma, and the role it plays within the community of speech and debate is a conversation that has often been reintroduced into our community. However, it seems that there has been a heightened urgency to address this topic. Most of the time, the answer to this argument is complex, but the problem arises when oppression, mistreatment, injustice, and other issues that are woven throughout the fabric of what this activity is made to address, are all collected under one term used to negatively connotate the issue: “trauma.”

When I first joined speech and debate I was told it would be a place where I should feel comfortable sharing my truth. For the majority of students across the country they likely share a similar experience. However, recently many students claim that what some state to be their truth is “too traumatic” or “has no place in high school competition”. But I think that’s just silly. Speech and debate should be a platform to share what we want to say, or maybe even what we need to hear. It should be a place for shame that might make us uncomfortable, because sometimes we grow and learn from even the most difficult conversations. While I’m grateful to be a part of a team that still upholds those values, what does the “anti trauma” rhetoric say to those who maybe haven’t found that level of comfort? That maybe their stories are too graphic for some? that it has no place in high school competition? or maybe that they are performing these pieces simply to win? Now make no mistake, there is a difference between trying on lived experiences as a costume, and performing about a subject you want to bring awareness to, or relate to. However, when we push students and the community to view these subjects as a score grab, it paints a different picture. The simple fact is, it’s not your business what provoked a student to give a certain speech. It’s inappropriate to question the motive behind a message, and quite frankly there is no point in trying to figure it out. 

The content of speeches in the national final round carries significant weight. Those speeches have the potential to influence judges and competitors for years to come. So to claim that students perform difficult pieces simply for a competitive advantage, is flat out dangerous. Not only is it dangerous but that rhetoric opens up a door to silencing the marginalized voices our community strives to uplift. If we pride ourselves on education and equity, among other things, then why is it that we are so keen on pushing back against these voices now? We live in a time where education is actively under attack, with books being banned and entire classes removed from curriculums. In a space designed for students to learn even the hardest of lessons, we should be careful not to undermine those efforts. 

The idea that some performances are “too graphic” or “do more harm than good” is false and wrong. In her article, “Don’t Make a Martyr of me” Aaliyah C. Daniel’s claims that our culture has a tendency to commodify Black Death, and that it causes “trauma porn” however, she then goes on to say that “this performance is ingrained in the African American community because it is one of the last remaining ways African Americans know how to safely protest racial injustice.” Criticizing performance activism isn’t new. In fact, her remarks came after Lil Baby was the center of tense racial discussion following his 2021 Grammy’s performance. His performance reenacted Black Lives Matter protests and unlawful arrests, one of which was the Murder of Tamir Rice. Tamir Rice’s mother, Samaria Rice, took to twitter to ridicule his commodification of the killing. Stating, “Look at this clout chaser did she lose something in this fight I don’t think so. That’s the problem they take us for a joke, that’s why we never have justice cause of shit like this.” She followed up this post by highlighting how liberals have been gaining recognition and profiting off of the spectacle made out of the violent killings of African Americans. But here’s the thing, people are always profiting off of trauma, especially black trauma, but there’s two sides to the argument. There’s one where you can  be an activist who claims we need to do more, and there’s another, where you can also be an activist and performer who lives in performance and acts through performance. Trauma is commodified because our society has created conditions where we see the suffering of minorities as a mere fact of life. We don’t act unless we see it, we won’t move unless we feel the true scope of the problem. When it comes to the issue of death and trauma, to put it simply, we are desensitized. People perform because that is one of the only ways to express a feeling someone else has never experienced. That’s why we have movies and books. It’s also why those resources are consistently being attacked. 

White fragility has long been a tool of oppression. The idea that we should be silent because they are uncomfortable. But we are done being pushed into silence. One of the most powerful poems I’ve ever read comes from Michael Harriot, “For White People Who Have To Listen To Black Poems” 

“I thought this was supposed to be a safe space 

A hiding place where white guilt deflector shields could offer shelter from the storm 

Where the hell are the love poems?

You know what 

How dare these critical thinking motherf**kers suck you in here 

Under the guise of art and force you to tear apart and closely examine all the values you take for granted 

And challenge your thoughts…” The full poem can be viewed on YouTube 

The notion that any student of a marginalized community that competes in this activity would include part of their experiences just for competitive gain is… insane. Speech and Debate is an activity that stands strong in the face of the seemingly constant onslaught of attempts to wrongfully recontextualize, and in some cases, flat out erase history. This attack against representation within the classroom transforms this activity into something much more than another form of entertainment. It has become a place where those whose voices have been lost can be given a platform to share their stories, and experiences. So when you take what they have to say and sloppily label it all as “trauma,” yeah that’s ridiculous. If you want entertainment, join musical theater. We’re here to advocate, and create conversation. Not get laughs and push silence.