Instructions for Sewanhaka’s diversity contest and your voting district’s Black History Month contest

GRADE 8--"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." –Martin Luther King Jr.  

In the spirit of King’s words, what ideas, images, stories, and people come to mind?

Black History Month— Sewanhaka CHSD— Diversity Writing Contest   OVERVIEW: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the single most instrumental force in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950's and 1960's. His use of a nonviolent approach to the atrocities of humanity granted him the honor of a Nobel Peace Prize and the inspiration of an American nation and world at large. His famous speech during the march on Washington is forever emblazoned in American history as a pivotal point in the nation’s history. He influenced several political policies and calls to action, most notably the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a living example that one person could change the world, with the help of many.

RULES: Essays, speeches, or short stories must not exceed 500 words. Poems and song lyrics must not exceed 25 lines. Typed, Arial or Times New Roman/12 point font, double-spaced. All pages should be numbered. The student’s name, grade, teacher’s name, school’s name must appear on the upper left-hand corner of the work. Entries are to reflect grade-appropriate grammar, punctuation, and spelling.   ORIGINALITY: Each entry must be the original work of one student only. An adult may not alter the creative integrity of a students’ work. The contest is designed to encourage and recognize each student’s individual creativity, therefore assistance from an adult or collaboration with other students is not permitted. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified and returned to the student. JUDGING: All entrants will be judged on originality, creativity and interpretation of the task.

Additionally, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages is sponsoring a Black History Month essay contest in this voting district. You know what that means . . . the possibility of winning two contests with one written piece! Great! Requirements: An essay inspired by the following theme: African Americans influence government, science, medicine, education, literature, entertainment, business, the arts and all facets of American life. Whom do you most admire? Tell is in 500 words or less about his or her contributions to our country.

GRADE 10— "Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." –Martin Luther King Jr.