Roberts and Johnson win U.S. Embassy Black History Month essay contest

Wed, Mar 18th 2015, 09:24 AM

Doris Johnson School's Tamia Roberts, and Kingsway Academy School's Alexia Johnson are the winners of the ninth United States Embassy Black History Month National High School Essay Contest, honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who worked hard to highlight the importance of equality and human rights for all regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, citizenship and socio-economic status.

The 12th grade students' winning entries were penned around the question: "What does equality and human rights mean to you? What can you do to promote equality and human rights in your community and throughout The Bahamas?"

Roberts whose essay was titled "Equality for All" focused on the need for gender equality. She wrote: "We cannot keep women and girls on the back burner of society. Women are not second-class citizens and must be treated equally. We must realize that by making it better for women, we are making it better for the entire society and the world."

Johnson wrote an essay titled "Rekindling the Dream" which focused on inequalities that remain in today's society and her hopes for a brighter future.

"Equality and human rights mean living in a world where there would be no more stories of Mike Browns and Trayvon Martins, and where children within the minority groups are not shot and killed because they look menacing. I ideate a society where I am treated the same as the modern day average white male; where my skin color and gender do not choose my path. I envision a world in which the events which are presently unraveling in North Korea are eradicated.

"Most of all, I see equality as a world where everybody is treated the same regardless of their race, sexual preference and gender; a world where every life matters. Equality, in my opinion, needs to become the forefront for not only world governments, but also for the everyday human."

Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Neda Brown made special visits to Doris Johnson High School and Kingsway Academy to present the two winners with the top prize of Microsoft Surface tablets.

Ethan Knowles, an 11th grade student at Queen's College finished second in this year's contest. Third place winners include LaTess Bartlett, an 11th grade student at Mary Star of the Sea School in Grand Bahama, and Pavel Bailey, a 12th grade student at Forest Heights Academy in Abaco. Runners-up were presented with new Apple iPads.

All of the top winners and their respective schools received a DVD documentary on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as well as educational and Black History Month reading materials.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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