The national step competition in Atlanta, Ga., two weeks ago was packed with mostly African American competitors. The dance form, rooted in African American history, has largely been associated with black colleges and fraternities. But on Feb. 20, a white team from the University of Arkansas did more than just win the competition. They ignited a dialogue about race relations and whether a particular race should be entitled to a certain part of American culture.

We talk with Latoya Peterson, editor of the website Racialicious.com, and Lester Spence, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University and a former step competitor.