Howard’s Speech and Debate team claimed victory as “Best Team” at the HBCU National Speech and Debate Competition, hosted on the university’s campus for the first time.
The competition, which took place from Feb. 27 to March 2, saw participation from nine HBCUs and culminated in Howard securing the championship title.
Angela Minor, assistant chair of the School of Communications, Speech and Debate team coach and Mock Trial team coach, expressed pride in the team’s dedication.
“We are elated and just overwhelmed with joy. I’m ecstatic because they worked so hard and they deserve it. This has been the pinnacle of our season,” she said.
Robert Khalil Kelly, the team president and a junior honors finance major, said the team won by a margin of over 20 points.
“This victory is proof of all the work we put in,” Kelly said.
After the event, Spelman College claimed they were the competition’s overall victors, even though Howard secured the championship. Spelman’s team won the National Parliamentary Debate title, but they placed fourth in the overall team category. Minor criticized Spelman’s claims, calling them “negligent” and “dishonorable.”
“I am surprised and disappointed in Spelman College for making that assertion,” Minor said. “They did not win the overall championship, and I hope they will correct that and apologize.”
Jocelyn Baker, the Spelman speech and debate team president and a sophomore international studies major, confirmed that the Spelman team won the National Parliamentary Debate title, and maintained the claim that they were the victors of the tournament.
Kelly responded to the misrepresentation, stressing that Howard was the undisputed winner.
“Spelman did not win best team. They came fourth place, and we won best team. To go online and claim they won overall is misleading,” Kelly said.
The controversy extended beyond Spelman’s false claims. Elandrea Baker, a sophomore political science major, expressed frustration with the treatment of Howard’s team during the competition.
“There were inconsistencies, unfairness and poor sportsmanship. It’s disheartening to see other teams not standing up for Howard,” Elandrea Baker said.
Tochi Ihekona, a sophomore political science major, described feeling targeted during the competition.
“There were actions taken against Howard’s team that felt specific and deliberate, like spreading misinformation and cheating,” Ihekona said.
Jae Smith, a sophomore public relations major, described the false claims as distasteful but emphasized the camaraderie that developed within the team despite the challenges.
“This tournament had its highs and lows, but it also brought the team closer together,” Smith said.
Jocelyn Baker said that although the Spelman team has not yet heard from the Howard team directly, the tournament director did reach out and offer a rematch of the final round. Due to lack of funding, Spelman could not travel again for a rematch.
Minor confirmed she is working on addressing the situation directly with Spelman’s coach. Kelly added that he plans to reach out personally to understand why the false claim was made.
“Our next step is to defend our integrity and prove we earned this victory through hard work,” he said.
Kelly, who was named overall best competitor, emphasized the significance of the win for the team’s legacy.
“The legacy of this team is shining, and it shows how we equip students to become leaders and remarkable speakers,” he said.
Despite the controversy, Elandrea Baker remains proud of the team’s accomplishments.
“We’ve consistently placed at national tournaments, even when the competition is out of state and we have fewer members. We attract and train the best of the best,” Elandrea Baker said.
Looking ahead, Kelly said the team is focused on expanding its reach.
“We’re planning on participating in more major tournaments and collaborating with other HBCUs to share knowledge and resources,” he said.
Ihekona, who emphasized the deeper meaning of speech and debate for Black students, said the competition represents much more than just a contest.
“We want to create a space where Black students’ voices are heard. This legacy is extremely important to us,” Ihekona said.
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
