Two Bishop Michael Eldon High School students and a student from Doris Johnson High School are the winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest.
Gabrielle Moss and Ashlee Hudson from the Grand Bahama school and Durante Charlow from the New Providence School, were the top three students.
Moss wrote her essay on former Governor General of The Bahamas "Sir Henry Taylor: The Bahamian Diamond in the Rough"; Hudson wrote about nurse Georgiana Symonette a founding member of the Women's Suffrage Movement; while Charlow's essay was crafted on Sir Etienne Dupuch, a champion of civil rights.
The top students received an Apple iPad or an Apple iPad mini.
Honorable mention was given to Janelle Watkins from St. John's College (New Providence) and David Ferguson - Bishop Michael Eldon High School (Grand Bahama).
It was the eighth consecutive year that the United States Embassy sponsored the nationwide contest to mark the United States' observance of Black History Month. The theme the students wrote their essay around was, "Dr. King became the youngest person ever to receive a Nobel Peace Prize in October 1964. He received the award for leading non-violent resistance to racial prejudice. What does it mean to you to be a champion for social justice, human rights and/or equality? Identify and discuss a Bahamian who has been a champion in his/her community.
What lessons have you learned from him/her to influence your role as a change agent in your community?" Students were asked to articulate the similarities between the American and Bahamian human rights and social justice movements. All high school students in The Bahamas were invited to participate in the essay contest. The Embassy received 55 essays from public and private high schools in New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands.
Gabrielle Moss' Essay:
Sir Henry Taylor: The Bahamian Diamond in the Rough
There is one jewel in the world which is more precious than silver and more valuable than gold. The purity and impeccability of this jewel has long fascinated mankind. Top "jewelers" worldwide have aptly named this phenomenon a "champion of equality." A champion of equality refers to an individual who is willing to stand up for the belief that all men are equal and is thus deserving of the basic human rights. Throughout the course of Bahamian history, there has been one individual bold enough to display this attitude. This is none other than the late Sir Henry Taylor.
The late Sir Henry Taylor was a Long Islander who later became the governor general of The Bahamas. Due to his light skin color, Taylor did not suffer the stigma of being "black" nevertheless, his thirst for equality led him to found the first Bahamian political party. Taylor began the movement towards independence.
Taylor's story teaches many lessons applicable in anyone's life. Primarily, Taylor's story teaches that a champion of equality must always work without expecting reward. As founder of the PLP, Taylor bore many burdens. For instance, Henry Taylor led the first citizen delegation to London from The Bahamas, and he was instrumental in Pindling's election. Taylor accomplished numerous feats, yet did not seek laudation. He was humble. Moreover, Henry Taylor fought for a cause which did not directly affect him. Though a white Bahamian, Taylor sacrificed his privileges to fight for others.
In addition, Taylor's life teaches that one should fight for what they believe in despite the unpopularity of the view. His delegation of 1960 illustrates this clearly. In 1960, Taylor was accompanied by Dame Dr. Dorris Johnson for the purpose of delegating women rights in London. At that time, it was unusual for a male to stand up alongside a female to advocate for this law. Taylor was not a woman; however, he bravely stood on their behalf. As Martin Luther King once quoted, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter." Taylor was not silenced, he spoke out.
Taylor's legacy has greatly impacted my judgment as I act as an agent of change for my community. Through following his footsteps, I have seen the benefits of standing as a champion before challenges even if I am not recognized. For instance, last October, I had to stand before the US Department of State to represent The Bahamas as Youth Ambassador. Immediately, I was worried of others' opinions. Despite this, I was comforted remembering how Taylor was in similar situations, yet he maintained his determined demeanor. Thus, I boldly stood.
Bold. Humble. Determined. Courageous. Champion. These are only a few words which can describe the late Sir Henry Taylor. Being the pioneers of true democracy in our country, without Taylor there could be no PLP and, by extent, no independent Bahamas. Sir Henry Taylor arguably has been the most impactful leader who has ever marched on this Bahamaland.
Ashlee Hudson's essay: Georgiana Symonette
"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability. But comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom." Powerful words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on change, injustice and struggle. When thinking about human rights and equality, one starts to wonder of the physical bondages and the mental oppression our ancestors endured in trying to make the world a better place. But, as Fredrick Douglas said, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress", the hardships underwent were anticipated, some underestimated, but nevertheless overpowered and conquered. Both Fredrick Douglas and Dr. King believed in a better world despite the obstacles. Their undying belief was essential to the path of freedom because, as Aristotle said, "Belief is the key to everything." Like Fredrick Douglas and Dr. King, Georgiana Symonette believed in a world of equality. She became an advocate for women's equality. She thought that they should be recognized as people with rights, people who deserve social justice. She believed and that is what makes her a champion in her community.
Georgiana Symonette was born and educated in Wemyss Bight, Eleuthera. In a pursuit to follow her ambition, Georgiana Symonette migrated to Nassau to pursue nursing in the Bahamas General Hospital. While working for the hospital, she observed the inequities of society when it came to women. The double standard fueled her passion and later led her to join three other ladies to form the Women's Suffrage Movement. Like the American Women's Suffrage Association founded by Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe, the organization embodied persistence. They were a united front with steel-like determination. In a time of struggle and hardship for women, they made it known that they were on a mission. Eventually because of their perseverance, Parliament passed an Act in 1961 thus allowing women to vote in the 1962 General Election in the Bahamas. Ms. Symonette later died in 1965.
That is what it means to me to be a champion; Georgiana Symonette supported something she believed in. She never lost her sense of self and she always knew what she wanted and pursued it. She knew her desires, she knew where she wanted to be and she knew her strengths and weaknesses. In observing her I learned that you must pursue something you believe in and give it your all because if you do not, there is no drive to complete it. If I want to make a change in my community, I need to have a passion for it because change does not come about easily and it is not accepted right away. Some need time to adjust. I learned that you need to know yourself before you try to exact change because once you initiate something, it takes persistence and endurance much like Ms. Symonette had in her journey to women's right to vote. I also learned that you need to know who you are and be confident in that because as Eleanor Roosevelt said "Do what you feel in your heart to be right--for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't."
Durante Charlow's essay on Sir Etienne Dupuch
"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle". Dr. King's words have truly touched the hearts of those fighting for equality and those who were against it. In The Bahamas, a voice for the oppressed rose up in the form of Sir Etienne Dupuch, a champion of civil rights. Dr. King's dynamic words have truly inspired many of our great leaders to fight for those who were the majority but treated like minorities.
As a young Bahamian, I've heard stories of the struggles my forefathers endured and the impact they had on the lives of all Bahamians. This has catapulted me to wager my own battle against injustice and inequality today. For me, a champion is an advocate for peace and a trendsetter. Champions are determined to change the world, especially in the areas of discrimination in the work place, education, sexuality and religion. I can truly say that I am a champion because I am determined to make a change in society. Dr. King started the fight for equality in the world, and we must continue this fight.
Sir Etienne Dupuch, like Dr. King has inspired me to stand up for the rights of others. He believed that all men were created equal. During his historic speech in the Bahamian Parliament, he expressed his distaste for the way black Bahamians were treated. He faced the toughest moment in his life when he fought to end discrimination in Bahamian society. On January 23rd, 1956, his dream was realized when he pushed an anti-discrimination resolution through the House of Assembly. This resolution was able to allow blacks to enter public places in the Bahamas. This valiant act has indeed impacted my life tremendously. I cannot imagine where our country would be without audacious man like Sir Etienne, who challenged the "old guard" and the many social ills blacks encountered.
It is fitting to note, that a year before Etienne's historic resolution, Dr. King was instrumental in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. With his help, blacks were provided with integrated seating on buses. Additionally, King was also influential in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, where southern blacks obtained the right to vote. Dr. King's successes showed me that no matter one's ethnicity, we are all of one body formed by God and we should be treated equally. Similarly, Sir Etienne's resolution had a vast impact on Bahamians. With the resolution passed, black Bahamians were now able to enjoy many freedoms as their white counterparts.
As an agent of change, I continue to mold the minds of my peers to accept persons based on the contents of their character. I concur with Sir Etienne who stated, "The day is passed when classes and races can be divided by some invisible line. Every day I ensure that no line will ever separate us as a people." In my school, I have a voice and I will continue to let Dr. King and Sir Etienne's dream live on.
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