What better way to kick off Black History Month than to celebrate the progression of Black culture by attending the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, NY for their Inaugural Stage for Debate series where authors Steve Stoute and William C. Rhoden discussed whether or not culture and sports are in a “post-black” moment. Moderated by Danyel Smith, Editor of Billboard magazine, culture critic, and sports enthusiast, this debate opened the minds of the audience to evaluate the progression of Black culture.

Steve Stoute has an impressive background in his work history. He was a former Music Executive launching the music careers of artists well known today such as Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, and a list of others. His current whirlpool of titles includes Advertising & Marketing Executive, Entrepreneur, and Author of his recently published book, The Tanning of America: How Hip Hop Culture Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy. The book unravels how Hip Hop Culture has merged into mainstream and is now the platform to driving business in Corporate America while allowing them to stay true to their own values and goals.

William C. Rhoden, sports columnist, for the well known media outlet, The New York Times, and author of Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete, explains in his book the exposition of African American athletes being the center of modern culture. Being known on and off the field for their accomplishments in the “game” but still finding themselves at times being oppressed in an industry that was built off their talent.

The discussion had a lot of valid points on each end regarding culture and sports in a “post black” moment; and while the discussion can still be challenged, there are many opinions one can come to in the end. Well, what is Progression? Progression is an evaluation of a situation or circumstance overtime which will have “PRO” results within a time span. As I listened to the discussion and heard both points on the author’s views, it made me realize we are constantly evolving as our culture develops. Yes, there is always more progression that can always be made in life in general. There’s a mix of shared values and generational views. However, the fact of the matter is how we go about the change and what the individual who is trying to make that progress will come out doing in the end.

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.- Frederick Douglass