Questions about black people's place in the world have been rocket fuel for some of the most fiery debates in history.

And three of those debates still have black people heated today.

I'm Len from Push Black, and this is Two-Minute Black History, what you didn't learn in school.

In 1965, ARC conservative William F. Buckley challenged James Baldwin to a debate on the American Dream.

Buckley foolishly claimed that racism was no longer a problem for black people, but Baldwin

quickly proved him wrong, insisting that black people's oppression had made the, quote,

American dream possible for white people, but not for themselves.

The disagreement between W.E. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington dominated the black

conversation of the early 20th century. De Bois, a reliever in a talented 10th leading the way

to equality, clash with Washington, the champion of black economic

independence. Although they didn't see eye to eye on the details, their intentions were the same.

In September of 1977, TV host Steve Edwards aired an hour-long debate between Jesse Jackson

and David Duke, a former

grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Duke did his best to make white supremacy sound normal.

But Jackson saw right through it. He knew that the economic fears of poor whites could be

played upon by demagogues like Duke.

You see, there's power in our voices when it comes to our people.

With every breath, word, and action, we determine history.

Where would our people be without these critical conversations?

These three debates show the power of using our voices. Even when we disagree, starting the

conversation could spark change in our communities. In order to move towards the future, you've got to look to the past.

This has been Two-Minute Black History, a podcast by Push Black.

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