1. law, govt and politics
2. legal issues
3. civil rights

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2013
Dr. Martin
Luther
King, Jr.
Essay/Poem
Contest
Winners
Irvington
Public
Schools
Abigaille Michel
Grade Ten
Irvington High School
Ms. Aaliyah Muhammad
Third Place Winner
In a world filled with jealousy, rage, betrayal, envy, and selfishness, we the
people of Irvington must come together as a whole to make the impossible possible. A
wise man once stated, “A miracle is another name for effort.” This is significant because
it reflects how the citizens of Irvington Township are waiting for a miracle without
putting forth any efforts. Instead, they stand by, watching it crumble to rubble. How can
we demand change in our community if we do not become the change that we desire?
Are we not the roots of change? In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream Speech
and in President Barack Obama’s, 2008 Acceptance Speech, these two men introduce
ideas and ways that can help bring change to the township of Irvington.
Injustice was an idea that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was passionate about. There
was a time in America where people were labeled or prosecuted without a fair trial. The
magnitude of their character was not important, but the color of their skin defined them.
In the text he states, “America has given the Negro people a bad check.” This
demonstrates how the outsiders label Irvington as corrupted because of its appearance
and because of their assumptions of this “presumably” bad town. Although, we are being
judged based on the negative publicity this town has received in the past, it is partially
our fault. We as a community are not standing strong to change the public image of us.
People are supposed to treat each other fairly but yet we treat each other unjustly.
Therefore, allowing others to treat us as they see fit. If we follow in Dr. King’s steps in
practicing justice, we will surely be able to take the first step in our long march towards
change.
Furthermore, we cannot reach our destination if we each go our individual ways.
We must march together as a community and at a pace that we can all maintain. President
Barack Obama once stated, “The roads ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We
may not get there in one year or even a term, but… We as a people will get there.” This
shows that without a doubt, it will not be easy neither will the results come quickly, but if
we march together, the walk there will be worth the hard work and the wait. When we
achieve our goals, we can then praise President Obama for being one of our guides
throughout our march.
Moreover, in order for us to not get discouraged throughout this long walk, we
need to be hopeful. Barack Obama once stated, “It began in the backyards... and the
living rooms... and the front porches...” This is significant because it mirrors the poor
aspects of Irvington. In this small town, where people struggle to meet their financial
needs, there is no guarantee we will start big. We may not be able to start at a full speed,
but if we take small baby steps, we will gradually increase our pace and someday sprint
to our destination. President Barack Obama has given us hope to encourage the people
and keep us working hard.
Abigaille Michel
Grade Ten
Irvington High School
Ms. Aaliyah Muhammad
Third Place Winner
Henceforth, throughout this march, we should depend on and support one another.
Let us gain enough energy so that we can march without falling or fainting. Let us march
for change, march in unison, march with justice, and march with hope. That way, one day
we may fulfill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream by singing, “Free at last! Free at last!
Thank god Almighty, we are free at last!” Free from the doubtful thoughts that “the banks
of opportunity have gone bankrupted.”
Anaya Battle
Grade Seven
Union Avenue Middle School
Mr. Richard Knight
Second Place Winner
“Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
As you already know, prejudice is still here today. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
made his “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 to express his feelings at the time about
prejudice. During that speech, he talked about discrimination and how it was prevalent in
his time period. In truth, all he wanted was for people of different races to live in
harmony. And in 2013, much of that dream came true, as racism isn’t what it used to be.
People are much more civil now. That said, people also prejudge each other all the time,
sometimes, without even knowing they’re doing it. If Dr. King were alive today, he
would be ashamed about this. Like he said in his famous speech: “But 100 years later, the
Negro is still not free.” He is totally right about that. But would he have predicted that
now a lot of different people don’t have freedom besides just the Negro?
I can give you an example of what I mean. I once watched a commercial on
bullying where people kept making fun of an overweight boy. They made comments like,
“Hey, did you forget to wear a bra?” and things like that. Even though he wasn’t black,
he still wasn’t free from their prejudice. This time it was a prejudice against being
overweight, which is just as bad. When I saw this commercial, I thought, why would
someone want to hurt others like that? Just like Dr. King once said, “All men are created
equal.” So how can people be so cruel? Is it because they have been mistreated
themselves? Whatever the reason, people shouldn’t do that to one another. It’s not right.
Furthermore, I see discrimination all the time in my own school. As I walk the
halls, I constantly hear people making fun of other people’s races and saying things like,
“Shut up, you Haitian!” Or, “Go back to your country!” These terrible statements are
uttered all the time. I know for a fact that Dr. King would not be happy about this. To
those who say things like that, I just wish they would think about what Dr. King meant
when he said, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup
of bitterness and hatred.” People shouldn’t hate each other. It’s just wrong.
That said, I wish I could say I wasn’t guilty of being slightly prejudice myself, as
even I have discriminated against an entire group of people at least once. Everyone has. I
once stated that I believed all Chinese people were smart. And while it doesn’t seem like
the meanest form of discrimination, it still is in the sense that I was judging a whole
group of people. But after witnessing what people go through, I will stop judging entire
groups, even if it’s not something mean. Maybe if other people see me making this
choice, they’ll stop being prejudice, too. And hopefully, many more people will stop
being discriminated against around the world. Like Dr. King said: “And when this
Anaya Battle
Grade Seven
Union Avenue Middle School
Mr. Richard Knight
Second Place Winner
happens, when we allow freedom to ring. When we let it ring from every village and
every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when
all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and
Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free
at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’” And until that day comes,
I will respect others and see what happens.
Carmelo Francis
Grade Three
University Elementary School
Ms. Beth Green
First Place Winner
It is my dream to make the world a better place. This is because I read Dr. Martin Luther
King’s legacy and beliefs in his speech. He believed strongly in equality and nonviolence. I
now also believe in it as well. I need to stand for the things I believe in just as Dr. King did. I
can make my community and country a better place. I will have to get involved and stand for
equality and nonviolence like he did. I know I can make a difference too.
I loved the quote in Dr. King’s speech that states, “Now is the time to lift our nation from
the quick sand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” I understand that there is no
segregation in our country today, but I need to make sure I do not judge people because of their
race. We are all here to live an American Dream. One way I can serve my community is to treat
everyone equally and to stand up for equality by making my beliefs known.
Another belief that Dr. King shared was of nonviolence. Nonviolence does not seek to
defeat or humiliate an opponent but aims to win his friendship and understanding. If we
Americans continue to fight among ourselves, we will never be united as a country. My dream is
that I can be a better citizen of this community by becoming involved and listening to ideas to
help make my community a better place to live in. Then each community becomes united and
the world will be better.
While I was reading Dr. Martin King’s speech, I learned things that I have never read
about before. If you actually research and study about Dr. King, you will find that he was really
a truly great man. He was also an interesting man who changed history. It took awhile before
race did not matter in this country as much, but then it finally changed. We now know we can all
make a difference. If we stand up for what we believe we can make the world a better place.
“Free at last, free at last, Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.” These are words from Dr.
King’s speech.
Charles Thelusma
Grade Five
Madison Avenue School
Ms. Monique Burse
Second Place Winner
“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last!” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
said these great words, however, if he saw society today, he’d be ashamed. We might be free
from racism, but what about other things? Violence is flooding the human civilization. Poverty is
everywhere you turn. In schools, bullying is taking place on a daily basis. The world is taking a
drastic turn, but I think I have a dream that could change the world.
When I turn on the television, I often see mass shooting, suicide, and murder on the news. The
common denominator is violence. When I see this, I think it could happen to me. People
shouldn’t feel threatened when they are in their homes. I wish I could stop the violence, but
being the fifth grader I am, my efforts are limited. I could begin a boycott on guns. By telling my
parents, they will tell their friends, and hopefully the message will spread by wildfire. I believe,
just like Dr. King believed, I can make a difference.
Look outside and more than likely you will see people living in bad areas and poor living
conditions. People have to stop taking life’s luxuries for granted. As Dr. King said, “Now is the
time to make justice a reality for all God’s children.” There are people who don’t have things.
We could all come together as brothers and sisters and open a soup kitchen so the homeless men
and women can feel equal like everyone else.
Have you ever joked around with someone by calling them names? Stop and think about the way
that person feels. Bullying is a serious issue in many places in America. When a person gets
bullied he feels an overwhelming sense of helplessness. No one expects this to ever happen to
them, yet students in schools deal with this problem on a daily basis. I can promote peace and
equality by giving speeches at schools and showing that bullying is wrong. This may enlighten a
bully to stop his action and become a better person. I think Dr. King would want this for the
world.
The world is becoming an unsafe place. Violence is everywhere you go. The number of people
living in poverty is going up, and bullying is at an alarming rate in schools. As people, we are
free from some things, but held in captivity by other things. I have a dream that I can make a
difference. I have a dream that I can make a difference by following in the footsteps of leaders
like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dalvin Josias Sejour
English Eleven
Irvington High School
Ms. Jena Martin
First Place Winner
In the words of Barrack Obama, “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep.”
Obama provides a simple yet strong illustration of the hardships and obstacles faced when
striving for change. The statement made by Obama holds the same meaning when trying to
change communities that are like Irvington. Both Martin Luther King and Barrack Obama have a
superb comprehension of the extreme and diverse difficulties faced in African-American
communities. For instance King stated, “One hundred year later, the negro is still languishing in
the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” This quote shines an
illuminating light on the problems seen in Irvington, because we have allowed other
communities to surpass us. While we quarrel and argue amongst each other, we do not see that
we are lagging behind the rest of New Jersey and The United States. This township is in critical
condition, because the sense of unity, dreams, and change has been lost. To revive our fair
township of Irvington we must recover from the phlegmatic state which we are so accustomed to
and take action, or like a house with a weak foundation the town will soon crumble to the
ground.
To begin improving the living standards of Irvington the community, we must come
together, scrutinize the community, and solve our basic problems. Then, this township can
advance. In the words of Martin Luther King, “We must learn to live together as brothers or
perish together as fools.” This quote resembles the current status of citizens that live in Irvington,
because we fail to assemble (as one) to accomplish anything that occurs in the town. The perfect
example of our failure to come together in this community is the lackluster amount of parental
involvement. Parents have the final word when it comes to what happens in their child's
education, and a lack of participation from parents reflects in the grades and academic standards
here in Irvington. When parents neglect to show a lack of concern for their children’s education,
drugs, sex, and gangs seem to be what soothes the soul of these unappreciated children. If
parents actually took the time to attend Parent-Teacher Association sessions, have one to one
conversations with teachers, and become more involved in their child's education there would be
a major improvement in our schools. This will allow a higher standard of education for the
students of Irvington.
Furthermore, in our efforts to improve the township of Irvington, we must simply dream
big. A wise man once said, “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it take to
accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” Who said that changing the township of Irvington
would occur in a blink of an eye? As a community, we must dream and keep dreaming until our
dreams flourish. What I mean by this is that we have to think of all the incredible opportunities
that can come from Irvington. Then, we can begin to build upon those fundamental ideas and try
to make them come real. One dream that I am sure could come to reality is having a new hospital
within our town. The old General Hospital has been abandoned for several years now, and no
Dalvin Josias Sejour
English Eleven
Irvington High School
Ms. Jena Martin
First Place Winner
progress has been made to reconstruct it. Imagine all the lives that could be saved if this hospital
is reopened. It hurts me dearly to see a perfect opportunity, such as a new hospital being open,
left blowing in the wind. Reconstruction of this magnitude will not come cheap. The citizens of
Irvington should be outraged that there is not a single hospital in the town and should be
pestering the government or the state of New Jersey for some type of funding to make this
project come to life. A government grant or a large donation is one of the ways the hospital could
reopen, but until that day comes it is just another dream. We could keep dreaming until our
hearts spill out, but without making essential changes first, our dreams will never become a
reality.
After we have united and reached for the stars, through our dreams we can finally have
change in our community. In the words of Barrack Obama, “There will be setbacks and false
starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision…” This quote can be said for
Irvington, because the same way everyone will not agree with the decisions made by Obama
during his presidency is the same how everybody will not agree on what needs to be changed in
Irvington, (since we all possess our own mindsets and ways of thinking). If the citizens of
Irvington combined their various ideas and viewpoints (while becoming more enthusiastic about
seeing change) this town would see an opulent amount of amelioration. The biggest issue that
becomes a barrier for Irvington is the budget management. How are we supposed to make major
improvements in the community if the way we handle our money is inefficient? Irvington’s
budget should be balanced in an effort to meet the needs of schools, businesses, and emergency
operations (such as the police force and fire department), so this town can enter a period of
change. Imagine if we balanced the budget for the township of Irvington. For instance, if our
budget was balanced, there would be more jobs to lower the unemployment rate and more
recreational centers could be built to help keep the youth off the street.
Although Irvington has been in a desperate state for a while now there is still hope. The
citizens of this community must use the foundations of unity, dreams, and change if this town
ever wants to recover from its current status. Martin Luther King once said, “As we walk, we
must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.” The whole
community must take into account the words of Martin Luther King and make it our obligation
to keep on going in the right direction. Once progress has been made in Irvington, we can never
revert to our old ways. We must make it our number one goal for our dreams to come true. How
do you think Irvington would be if we actually made an effort to change it?
!
Donte Ingram
Grade Twelve
Irvington High School
Dr. Hiawatha Goins-Baron
First Place Winner
The standards and expectations of living vary from child to adult. Some may value
wealth and social status, while others may emphasize the potential of the next man, and cherish
the youth. Two men saw this country in an unprecedented light. Two noble men did not judge
this country on their flaws but saw opportunity in them. Dr. King and President Obama share
many accolades such as: Noble Peace Prize winner, a force of enlightenment, and a model of a
United States of America citizen. Both men fought restlessly for the proud reputation of this
great nation of ours. Even though we still face an uphill battle with the complexes of the
American Dream, we have made substantial improvements during the journey. Dr. King was a
pioneer of the movement of reestablishing this nation’s ideals of democracy, liberty, opportunity,
and unyielding hope. In addition, President Obama is following those footsteps and finishing the
dream. However, all of the power of change does not pertain to these two mighty, influential
men or even the government. We as the people must take responsibility into our own hands and
become accountable to be the change you want to see. The government and media is everyone’s
scapegoat, but people need to look in the mirror and ask: “What can I do to help change
America? How can I get involved and contribute to this event?” The Constitution entitles the
people to dictate the direction of the nation. Therefore, we use the critical themes used in Dr.
King’s and President Obama’s iconic speeches to improve the quality of life in our
neighborhood. The prominent themes includes: equal opportunity of every man and woman to
achieve the American Dream, the importance of voting for change, and the hope for unity. In
conclusion Dr. King and President Obama have laid out a very detailed blueprint towards
fulfilling expectations.
Above all, the equal opportunity of every man and woman to have a chance of living the
American Dream is significant to a person’s mindset. Despite having inherited disadvantages
such as emotional, physical, and mental disabilities, people are still being chained down by
discrimination, racial injustice, and stripped of their unalienable rights is outrageous. The
themes echoed throughout Dr. King’s “ I Have a Dream” speech. He furiously states that the
black community will never settle to predetermined options. For instance, he said, “I have a
dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold
these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” (p.4) I believe that we have
adopted a deceitful government, one that we can’t always rely on to have our best interest at
heart. It’s not up to an elected individual, organized group leader or government. This is an
indisputable possession of equality that is embodied in the Constitution. President Obama
mentioned a noteworthy experience, Ann Nixon Cooper that exemplifies the magnitude of equal
opportunity. On page 10, he says “…At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their
hopes dismissed, she lives to see them stand up and speak out…” (p.10) Accordingly, anything
that opposes this omnipotent authority is otherwise unconstitutional! Every human born under
this document regardless of color and ethnicity has an accommodating opportunity to education,
jobs, healthcare, entertainment, etc. Primarily in a minority neighborhood, people have the
opportunity to overcome stereotypes by hard work, determination and perseverance. I am
Donte Ingram
Grade Twelve
Irvington High School
Dr. Hiawatha Goins-Baron
First Place Winner
incapable of giving out opportunities; however, I can identify opportunities that would benefit
the people in my community. Scholarships for my fellow students and job openings for working
men and women can be included in my contribution to my neighborhood. Opportunity sparks
the light of potential. Likewise, potential is a key ingredient to hope. Finally, hope will produce
that will to get over the hills and mountain tops of obstacles, doubt, and struggles to the ultimate
goal of the American Dream.
In addition, the importance of voting for change is hysterically misunderstood,
misinterpreted, and miscalculated, when I contemplate the difficulty to get to this point, it
bewails me. It seems as if people have forgotten the era that didn’t have the opportunity to vote.
It really tarnishes the legacy of the people who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the privilege. Dr.
King magnified the significance of voting in his speech when he said “we cannot be satisfied as
long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and the Negro in New York believes he has nothing
for which to vote.” However, we have not remained stagnant on this ideal. In fact we have
made crucial strives in taking advantage of this gift to vote. As a result, we have the first
African-American president in U.S. history. President Obama is a testament to the people
executing their duty as a citizen in the past two elections. In fact, President Obama gave credit
where it was due in his acceptance speech. He acknowledge the people that made his election
possible “…people who waited 3 hours and 4 hours, many for the first time in their lives,
because they believed that this time must be different, that their voice could be that difference.”
(p.7) The section that glowed in the speech was the story of the 106-year-old lady voting. She
was born during a time she couldn’t vote because she was a woman and she was black. She
didn’t take opportunity for granted. She should inspire people to re-evaluate their priorities.
Although I do not meet the criteria to vote, I can contribute to the cause. I can go around my
neighborhood and encourage everyone to vote and take advantage of this duty as a citizen.
Many people have a plethora of criticism and modifications regarding the government, but fail to
realize they have the power to change that. In many ways President Obama is a product of Dr.
King’s legacy. Thus he is the reality of his dream.
Finally, this hope of unity is what keeps this nation stable. A noteworthy occurrence in
each speech would be the usage of “we” and “the people”. Both men eluded from the aspect of
individualism to emphasize the magnitude of the unity. Dr. King’s dream included “…one day
on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and former slave owners will be able to sit
down together at the table of brotherhood.” (p.3) Also, he waited the day “when black men and
white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics….” will be able to join hands for a
common cause. President Obama’s election displayed this stunning outcome of involvement
from diverse people. He explained what his election truly meant which was not a collection of
blue and red states, instead “young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black and
white…” (p.7) because we recognized that we are, and always will be the United States of
America that hopes for a better day. There are many features that distinguish us; sexuality,
Donte Ingram
Grade Twelve
Irvington High School
Dr. Hiawatha Goins-Baron
First Place Winner
appearances, and cultures. This can ultimately fracture a country as we have seen before. I live
in a very diverse neighborhood that included contrasting cultures and beliefs. We can come
together by not discriminating against each other but rather embracing the similarities and vision
we have for the future. Despite conflicts, we all want a better future for the next generation.
During a time of turmoil and hardship, we can do our part to lighten the load for the future leader
of America by rising and falling as one nation; as one people.
In conclusion, if you ask one person what’s important in his life and how he will
contribute to the quality of it, you may get a vastly different answer. But that the beauty of it, no
matter how different we think we are, no matter how far the rope is stretched apart on views it
always pull us back together. Two men had a podium to specify the progress that we want to
make and have made over the trying years. Separated by generations but united by a cause, Dr.
King and President Obama promoted a goal that will better our future and restore pride within to
be called an American. Even though they are generations apart their philosophy is identical. To
make opportunities out of flaws, make success from mistakes, and build of a foundation that has
thrived in the improvement of the quality of life. The battle is never done as perfection is never
perfect, so we continue to surpass the expectations as set as a nation. Their prominent themes
that are instrumental to the improvement of the quality of life was the equal opportunity of every
man and woman to achieve the American Dream, importance of voting for change, and the hope
of unity. Do you know why this country is called the United States of America? Do you know
the real symbolic message behind it? Hopefully you will after you contemplate the quality of
your life.
Elton Jean-Baptiste
Grade Six
Union Avenue Middle School
Ms. Renee Emami
Second Place Winner
“Let freedom ring, Let freedom ring” shouted MLK Jr. during his 1963, “I Have a
Dream” speech. That is also the hope of all Americans. But is that true for all Americans
today? When MLK Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, African Americans were
losing their lives, losing their liberty, and were unable to support their families. That isn’t
true today. We even have an African American President. But there still is a need for Dr.
King’s words today.
First of all, there is job discrimination. Many people in present day America have a
hard time getting a job. Women who look too beautiful, pregnant women, and women
with children all have a hard time finding a job. Women who look too beautiful have a
hard time finding a job because companies are afraid of the beautiful women being
sexually harassed. The company can get sued because they have an obligation to protect
them. Also, some managers worry that their beauty will cause a distraction. Women with
children have a hard time finding a job because when they are trying to take care of their
children they can’t go to sleep on time. As a result, it is believed they will arrive, late or
too tired to work. Another reason why women with children have a hard time finding a
job is when their children are sick; they have to take a day off from work to take care of
their children. My mom had a hard time finding a job because she had three children.
When one of us is sick, she has to stay home and take care of us. Pregnant women have a
hard time finding a job because their future employment cannot be counted on. Also,
extra care must be taken around them because they carry an extra living person in them.
Just like in MLK Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, “One hundred years later the life of
Negro Americans is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of
discrimination.” Today there is still more work to be done for the women in America.
Second of all, there still is religious discrimination. A lot of people have a hard time
finding a job because of their religion and religious beliefs. For example, if you are
Amish and you have a beard and want to apply for a job, you may be asked to shave your
beard or cut it lower so you can get the job. Another example is Muslims. Their religion
requires them to pray three times a day during the workday. Then one gets hired for a job.
When his/her boss finds out he/she is praying during work time he may say, “I pay you to
do work, not to pray.” That is considered religious discrimination. Just like in MLK Jr.’s
speech, “One hundred years later, the negro is still languishing in the corners of
American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” Only now it is not the
Negro, but Americans of faith.
Third of all, handicapped or disabled people have a hard time finding a job. They
may need accommodations to do work properly because they lost an arm or leg or both.
In places like England, people who are handicapped or disabled cannot even get a job.
Elton Jean-Baptiste
Grade Six
Union Avenue Middle School
Ms. Renee Emami
Second Place Winner
They have an 83% unemployment rate. In America, the unemployment rate is better than
that, but if you have a learning disability, the rate is still high.
Also, in places known as third world countries, handicapped or disabled people have
difficulty getting hired for work. Just like it says in MLK Jr.’s speech, “They have come
to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.” They cannot walk
alone. We all need to help them.
To sum it up, MLK Jr.’s speech was heard all over America, but now it has to be
heard around the world. In brief, women, people of faith, and disabled people still
experience discrimination. Just like it says in MLK Jr.’s speech, “This’ll be the day when
all of God’s children will be able sing with new meaning, ‘My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet
land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride,
from every mountainside, LET FREEDOM RING, LET FREEDOM RING.’” Let
freedom ring all over the world.
Faith Blair
Grade Eleven
Irvington High School
Ms. Carla Phillips- Persaud
Second Place Winner
!
Equality is the frame that could improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream Speech” and President Barack Obama's 2008
acceptance speech is an inspiration of how life should be in our communities.
Dr. Martin Luther King was a civil rights activist who presented equality in a
dream world that consisted of people living in peace and harmony. In my own
community, it seems that blacks occupy the areas where poverty occurs the most. Dr.
King said, “The negro lives on the island of poverty.” I agree, the life of “negroes” was
horrible and today it seems life is just only a little better, but not good enough. The
solution to this is if people portrayed equality within all races then everyone could live at
a standard that is considered being human and not living like an animal.
In my community, you are continuously judged by the color of your skin. Living
in a predominately black community while having lighter skin, people are discriminating
against you without knowing you as a person. They assume your life is better without
knowing how you struggle as much as the next person. Like most people, Dr. King's
dream world consisted of the idea, that people “... will not be judged by the color of their
skin but by the content of their character.” People need to stop being racist and showing
prejudice. As a result of this behavior, hate crimes like the Trayvon Martin and Sean Bell
deaths have happened. In order to improve our community, we must comport ourselves
better and learn to love ourselves so that we can love others.
Martin Luther King had a dream and some of his dreams have come true. Because
of him, people of all shades of color can share the same rights. But careful consideration
of his dream shows it has not fully come to life in the way he dreamed it. Today there is
equality within races, but there's a hierarchy pertaining to what “race” is at the top and
who's on the bottom. Dr. King says “I have a dream that my four little children will one
day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the
content of their character.” Dr. King believed in equality within every race. Although his
dream is possible, discrimination exists when people of color try to do better, but because
of discrimination, they are stuck at the bottom. If we all work together and remember
race does not exist; that we are all one race, the human race, then we can all be successful
with a fair chance in life.
Martin Luther King Jr. not only made it possible for people of all shades of color
to share rights, but he also made it possible for The United States to have the first
African American President, Barack Obama. President Barack Obama is the face of the
dream that millions of people waited for; those who waited for change. Change has been
a long time coming. We have come from slavery days and not even being able to vote as
African Americans. Now we have an African American President. Obama said “She was
born just a generation past slavery; .....--the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the
Faith Blair
Grade Eleven
Irvington High School
Ms. Carla Phillips- Persaud
Second Place Winner
progress; the times we were told we can’t and the people who pressed on with that
American creed: Yes We Can.” We, as a minority, have made it so far. We came through
the struggles of marching down to an office while being beaten, lynched, and gassed to
near death, just so America can hear our voice. Today, because of all the faith, hope,
heartache and equality shared throughout this nation, we have a Black President. If our
communities share the same ideas of hope and endurance; together we will continue to
break the stereotype of Black communities.
President Obama's campaign took on struggles that brought America into progress
from the past. This generation takes Obama's win as inspiration. The idea of “Yes We
Can” and “Hope” remains in the minds of children affecting their every move into the
right direction. Not only the new generation, but older generations feel a “new sense of
common purpose.” As a nation we feel that we can conquer anything we put our hearts
to, because we have an African American President. Obama is an inspiration, and inspires
people to feel a new purpose, learn to change for the better, and conduct themselves in a
manner that is beneficial in the long run.
Equality, hope, and sacrifice are themes that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have
a Dream Speech” and President Barack Obama's 2008 Acceptance Speech use. Their
words and actions are the frames that can be used to improve the life in neighborhoods
and inspire change in members of our community.
!
Germanie Louis
Grade Eight
University Middle School
Ms. Erica Hofler-Mattaur
First Place Winner
“The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour on it, the
more it will contract,” the great American author and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes once
said. I believe what he meant was that the more deviousness a bigot is exposed to, the
more he/she is going to antagonize the source. Discrimination and prejudice is an issue
that has plagued humankind for hundreds of years. Xenophobia aided in many wars that
have scarred our planet and history. The disease of ignorance causes people to lose the
opportunity of being educated. Finally, discrimination is a major cause of a high suicide
rate in our society.
First and foremost, since the dawn of time, mankind has always fought longlasting wars. A great fraction of them were instigated by leaders who thought they were
of a superior race. Through genocide, Adolph Hitler wanted to rid the population of
those he thought weren't good enough for the “New World.” “I think most people are
more susceptible to prejudice than to reason,” said Roger Ebert. In my opinion, people
will always judge others based on their skin color and nationality, and not based on their
personality. It is what makes us human. It is up to us to transform ourselves from just
being human, but rather to a race that every life form will acknowledge for the better.
Secondly, there is a large problem at hand when it comes to the point when
ignorance stops someone from being educated about the world around them. I once
witnessed a child that did not want to learn anything about the African culture, because
he thought that they were dirty and disease-ridden people. He didn't know better until my
teacher set him straight by telling him that he shouldn't judge anyone because of rumors
that he had heard. When you give into things such as prejudice, you are at a loss for
acquaintances of many different and interesting backgrounds. No child should be
subjected to exclusion or denied the opportunity to learn due to other people's lack of
tolerance.
Last but not least, discrimination is one of the main causes of suicide. When you
discriminate against others, you make that person feel like he or she will never be good
enough to be on your level. So when that happens, the person feels as if he or she does
not belong and they decide to take matters into their own hands. In Dr. King's famous
speech titled, “I Have A Dream,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “I have a dream that
my five children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color
of their skin, but the content of their character.” You never know who you are making
fun of until it is too late. Take your time to get to know someone before you prejudge
them by their looks and maybe that person may end up being someone of value to you.
In conclusion, discrimination and prejudice is an issue that has been around for
many centuries. It has brought upon many of the wars that have caused a great deal of
Germanie Louis
Grade Eight
University Middle School
Ms. Erica Hofler-Mattaur
First Place Winner
pain throughout history. It has also aided in losing opportunities to be educated in
important matters. It causes many suicides today. We are the ones that can better this
world. It begins with you and!
Gusvernande Jean Baptiste
Grade Nine
Irvington High School
Mr. Keith Kurtzer
First Place Winner
It haunts my imagination, silence that is. When I was coming into bloom I found everything I
ever needed at my disposal. I may have been selfish and desired the finer things, but overall, my
childhood truly was to be desired. I dreamt of a day when I could honestly become the voice of a
generation. It is my utmost wish to accomplish this task to the best of my ability.
Irvington deserves the best I have to offer and although I have yet to make the difference I so
desire, two inspiring and indeed very famous men are all the proof I need to know that I can truly
make a difference, not just in the Irvington community, but in the world. These two
extraordinary gentlemen have led me to consider making this pivotal decision, the inspiring Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. and the history making President Barack Hussein Obama. Growing up
and learning of Martin Luther King and being present for that historic moment four years ago, I
began to realize what a difference I could really make. My parents always impressed upon me
“no matter where your choices lead you in life, never be so oblivious as to forget where you
came from.” Hmmm, hmmm, was always my response to that phrase, but because of these two
men, that phrase is now what gives me warmth, such irony life truly is. Martin Luther King’s “I
Have A Dream” speech declared the unification of a country still in the throes of segregation. “It
is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of
color are concerned. … America has given the Negro people a bad check”. This was in a period
of great division. American is united; however, Irvington is still in need of assistance. There are
no concerns of discrimination, and yet the people’s voice is still silent.
Martin Luther King fought for the rights of all Americans. President Barack Obama
furthered our rights and freedom when he became the first African American President in our
nation’s history. On that day, the dreams of our founding fathers and those of Martin Luther
King came into bloom. I remember how I felt during that very moment. To put into words, I was
simply overjoyed. Martin Luther King had fought a long, rigorous, and sacrificial battle for our
equality, freedom, and rights. President Obama continues this fight with passion and tenacity. I
wish to make a difference in my neighborhood and to make sure that I am successful; I will use
everyone of these tools to my advantage. In his 2008 acceptance speech President Obama stated
“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. … I have never been more hopeful than I
am tonight that we will get there.” Martin Luther King also dreamt of this day. However, I
believe we cannot get there unless the government is aware of what the public finds disturbing.
America’s government is based on the choices of its people. Lately, it seems as though
politicians make their own rules. The people need to take back what is clearly theirs. The people
have an obligation to fulfill their duties as citizens. The government has a duty to act according
to the people’s view and concerns; I, for one, am going to make certain that their views and
concerns are known.
In order to change Irvington, it is imperative that I not forget Dr. King’s purpose and
priorities. I must remember what he had to endure, and that I simply must complete this task
Gusvernande Jean Baptiste
Grade Nine
Irvington High School
Mr. Keith Kurtzer
First Place Winner
with passion and also with tenacity. The specific way I wish to improve the quality of life in my
neighborhood is to speak out about the issues that seem to trouble us all. I wish to communicate
with the people about what it is that troubles them. According to a recent poll, 77% of citizens do
not speak specifically about their most troubling concerns. I wish to be their voice and represent
them to the best of my ability. Dr. King has given me the courage to act according to my feelings
and views. President Barack Obama has made me quite aware of the fact that it is never too late
to show the world what you are made of. It is because of these two men that I am the singular
individual I am today. I simply cannot thank them enough for this gift. It’s only because of their
struggles and heroic deeds that I can take on this task with such persistence and power. I long to
see Irvington as it once was… economically thriving, blissful and peaceful. Respectfully, Martin
Luther King quotes Thomas Jefferson in his “I Have A Dream” speech “We hold these truths to
be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” These words still ring true today.
Martin Luther King and President Obama are towering, inspirational figures. They show
us a world of possibilities, in Irvington and beyond. I can improve the quality of life in my
neighborhood by faithfully following their examples. It has always been my belief that anything
you put your mind to you can accomplish. These extraordinarily brave men are evident of that. It
is only my quite simple desire that I can represent the people of Irvington faithfully and to the
very best of my ability. I hope to be as brave as these two men, while I am engaged in the
process.
Jada Victor
Grade Three
Chancellor Avenue School
Ms. Judith Gaston
Second Place Winner
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams were for his four children to one day live in a nation
where they were not judged by their skin color but by their character. His other dreams were to
stop vicious racism and abuse. He wanted that because racism was hurtful to the nation. He
wanted equality for each black or white person. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted the end of
racism. He wanted the end of prejudice.
My dream for the world is to have more security for the world. I want that because every day
in the world somebody gets injured or killed by harmful weapons. There are lots of thieves in
the world that would steal people’s property. I think more security would keep people safe from
any type of danger around them. So they would not get wounded.
Secondly, my other dream for children is to have an excellent education. I want that because
when children get a good education, they grow up and get a great job. They can study really
hard and get good grades. They can have special jobs like an accountant if they are good at math
or an author if they are good at writing. They can also get good designing jobs if they are good
at art. When you are educated you can be a good member of the nation.
In conclusion, the world would be a much better place if we were all safe and educated. I
have dreams for the world just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and I hope we can achieve them. !!!!!!!
Jeffrey Santos
Grade Ten
Irvington High School
Ms. Mozell Anderson
First Place Winner
Have you ever wanted to make a change in your neighborhood? Have you ever
wanted to see people living in peace, or in a poverty-free life? Great people who have
lived in our world such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and our President Barack Obama
have wanted to see changes happen. I deem it is time for us to contribute in making a
change in the lives of our people.
Poverty is a factor that affects many of our neighborhoods and the lives of many
citizens. There are many people that are homeless and without jobs. Many people owe
debts and mortgage on their homes. However, I believe we could stop this issue for future
generations. We should motivate young people to get involved in school. The number
one reason for poverty in our time is that adults know that when they were young, they
didn't prepare themselves in school and go on to college. So many uneducated people
now cannot find jobs and unemployment creates poverty in the community and in the
lives of young people. Just like President Obama said in his 2008 acceptance speech,
“This is our time- -to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our
kids.”
Furthermore, there is another factor that is common in most neighborhoods.
Violence affects 75% of American children in their lifetimes. Most of the violence comes
from gangs and peer pressure among teens. To prevent violence from occurring in our
neighborhoods, we need more police surveillance. Also, schools and the townships
should offer programs that will lure teens out of mischief in the neighborhoods. Peer
pressure pushes teens to commit behaviors that are not by will, and extracurricular
activities will remove the bad pressure and enhance the good pressure. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. said in a quote from his “I Have a Dream” speech, “In the process of gaining our
rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.”
In addition to unemployment, crime, and gang violence ingredients that could
improve our country are love and respect. If parents and adults were to begin with
showing love and respect to one another, then their young ones would catch on. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. said “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking
from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” Teens feel as if they're not loved and respected in
their homes, which leads to them to seek love and acceptance from the streets. They
become aggressive teens. If love and respect existed in households, then we will feel as
though we are part of a family.
To conclude, our quality of life has been at its lowest point. However, we
can make a change and improve our lives. Two men have shown us hope and now it is
time for us to change our community. Dr. Martin Luther King and President Barack
Obama truly believed in bettering the lives of our people. Now we should too!
Kateryn Vasquez
Grade Seven
Union Avenue Middle School
Ms. O’Lan Nickson
First Place Winner
“ I have a dream that my four little children will on day live in a nation where they will
not be judge by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”—Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.
Discrimination and prejudice still impacts our world today. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. made a famous speech, “I Have a Dream.” In this speech, Dr. King says: “ I
have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not
be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” To me, this
quotes means that Dr. King hoped that one day his children would not be judged by the
way they looked, but by the way they are as people. I chose this quote out of all of the
other words that he used in his speech because I realize many parents only want what is
best for their children. Living in a world free from the violence brought on by
discrimination and prejudice would be a better world for everyone. Now ask yourself, is
that the world that we live in today? Have we realized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s
dream? To these questions, I say—NO!!!
To me, prejudice deals with the way you think. You can be ignorant and judge
without knowing someone. That closed-minded thinking only leads to hardship.
Discrimination means treating someone differently because they are not like you; it is an
act. Being discriminatory towards someone for any reason is boorish.
Throughout my short journey in life, I have been a victim of discrimination. I
remember a time in particular when a group of girls were constantly bothering me. They
would talk about me, my hair, the way I looked just because I am not black; it was very
hurtful to me. The sad part about it is, I did not know them and they did not know me.
Sure, I knew who they were because we went to the same school, but that is all that I
knew of them. We never spoke to one another, we never were in the same classes, but
every time I would see them in the cafeteria, I would hear them make derogatory
comments about me. When they would pass by me, they would stare at me and I could
hear them talking about me. They would say things like: “She thinks she’s cute!” or “I
hate that white girl!” I did not understand. I have since made friends with them; it was
during gym, the one class that we shared together. Our teacher put us on the same team;
we had to work together.
Just like the past, discrimination and prejudice still impacts us today. One of the
more serious ways I can think of is bullying. Bullying is both a form of prejudice and
discrimination because your words and your actions can be hurtful to someone. I can
remember this one case where this girl was being cyber bullied, that’s when you get
bullied via the internet. The pressure was too much for her and ended up taking her own
Kateryn Vasquez
Grade Seven
Union Avenue Middle School
Ms. O’Lan Nickson
First Place Winner
life. How cowardly! This is one example of how both prejudice and discrimination
impact our world today.
We see the causes and the effects of discrimination and prejudice. There are
many problems within the world. Can we make the world a better place? Yes we can by
continuing to change in the way Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others like him wanted us
to. By doing things like: learning to love and respect each other and by acknowledging
and celebrating our differences. If we do not make a change, prejudice and
discrimination will get worse. Let us bring peace to the world! Learn to love.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Keyshawn Dixon
Grade Three
Thurgood Marshall School
Ms. Barbara Whitaker
Third Place Winner
If I could, my dream would be to get rid of hunger and homelessness in the world.
I believe that Dr. King wouldn’t want hunger and homelessness to exist.
Hunger is a problem because people do not have any food to eat. I would fix it by
giving food to a food pantry. I would be like Dr. King and fix the problem by giving
speeches about hunger. My speeches would be about teaching people how to shop and
get more for their money or food stamps. I would encourage them, like I think Dr. King
would, to cook healthy meals and save leftovers for the next day.
Homelessness is another problem that needs to be solved. Dr. King wanted
people to work together. I would set up shelters for homeless people. I would speak to
them about how to get jobs. I would tell them, like Dr. King said in his “I Have a Dream”
speech, “…we must make a pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back.” I
would tell them that if they work that the money they make will help them pay their rent.
I would tell them not to be ashamed to ask for help.
I dream about helping people all over the world become better citizens. I dream
about giving speeches to help get rid of hunger and homelessness. Dr. King would be
proud of me for trying to get rid of hunger and homelessness.
Kheila Lonon
English Eleven
Irvington High School
Ms. Jena Martin
Third Place Winner
In the famous words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is
progress; working together is success.” This statement explains the importance of working
together and by doing so progress and success will concur. The township of Irvington can be
viewed, as a dislocated place with many flaws and mishaps. This is due to the current status and
reputation of being dangerous and scary that does not benefit this poor and beggared city.
Irvington was once a place where people can walk the streets at night and not worry about being
mugged or harassed. There was once a time where if an emergency happened, the police would
be dispatched to the investigation. Although common to most areas, Irvington Township
experiences high taxes. Additionally, this town also has a lack of schools. As a resident and
student of Irvington, I believe that by utilizing the help of others and working hard with the help
of the community, we will be able to restore Irvington back to its previous and well-known state.
President Barack Hussein Obama once stated in his 2008 Inauguration Speech that,” If
there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible;
who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power
of our democracy, tonight is your answer." In this specific quotation America will represent
Irvington, the dreams of our founders will be the previous mayors of this town and “The power
of our democracy” will be us, Irvington citizens. As stated in the previous paragraph, Irvington
was once a safe and powerful haven that provided a close and prodigious community for the
town people that lived there. Unfortunately, as the years progressed it left Irvington strangled and
depleted from what it once was. Irvington now suffers from many issues (such as poor education,
no leadership, budget issues and rodent problems). Students of this township have the propensity
for complaining about Irvington and comparing it to places (such as East Orange, Montclair, or
Maplewood). When asked why, they say that it is because of the authority and the negative
image Irvington holds. They explain that the school systems in East Orange, Montclair, and
Maplewood are better and that it is safer in those areas. Even though problems such as these exist
in Irvington, I believe, through the power of teamwork, Irvington can be made into a better place.
In the “I Have a Dream Speech” Dr. Martin Luther King explained how we as a
community will not stand for injustice by saying “No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be
satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Dr. Martin
Luther King often preached about black and white people coming together in order for
everything to be equal and fair for each other. During many of his marches, there were not only
African American people but Caucasian people as well. If people did not convene together, black
or white, the Civil Rights Movement would not have made any progress. Having a martinet style
leader and a group of people who do not contain a lackluster attitude, can successfully resolve
what, we as a community are fighting for. Irvington cannot make much progress without the
Kheila Lonon
English Eleven
Irvington High School
Ms. Jena Martin
Third Place Winner
help of its citizens. Efficacy comes with working together and a zealous community that will not
stand for anything less, in the name of Irvington.
President Barack Obama stated in his 2008 Inauguration, "And above all, I will ask you
join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years –block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand." Although, it may take some
time, change will come from working together and comporting yourself with a vibrant attitude.
Irvington has a crime rate of 22.4 incidents per 1,000 its population and a 50% high school
dropout rate. A way that we, as a community, can decrease those numbers is by conducting
phone blasts, enforcing the law, and having an active community or a neighborhood watch. If the
law was enforced by our local authority and the neighborhood watch was active, there would not
be much of a problem when it comes to illegal activities. If the community is more concerned
they would be able to see the perpetrators and inform the police about them. Also, by conducting
phone blast and enforcing the law, students will not be able to skip school. Through the
neighborhood watch, the police, neighbors, and the school can inform parents if their child does
not attend class. Other important issues of Irvington are the large amounts of abandoned houses,
a hospital that is not able to help people, and the lack of jobs. If we fix up these houses and sell
them, more people will move into Irvington. Some of the abandoned houses can serve as
community centers and can help keep teenagers off the streets. By renovating the hospital, more
people will move to Irvington and more jobs will be available to the citizens of Irvington.
Similarly to what was mentioned above, the improvement of Irvington will be a long and
tedious progress. Having a community that becomes choleric when an issue in the town is not
addressed is unacceptable. It is our fault that the issues arose in the first place. In order for
change we have to conspire and plan together to make the dreams of Irvington become a reality.
Suffering from issues (such as pollution and litter) can quickly be fixed if the people of our
community would volunteer their time to place garbage cans around the peripheral and internal
areas of Irvington. By coming together we can cut issues. If we, as a community, hold programs
that illustrate how important it is to take care of a child and the heavy responsibility that comes
along with parenthood, Irvington would be a better place. By making dreams a reality, convening
together and using hope to motivate us, we can provide a stable foundation. This foundation can
be used to rebuild Irvington, so our fair city can be functional and efficient again.
Mardochee Dajuste
Grade Four
Madison Avenue School
Ms. Remy Foluke
First Place Winner
In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream and he shared this dream with so
many people around the world. His dream was to see a world where people were not
judged by their skin color. I, too, have a dream about making the world a better place by
helping the needy, ending bullying, and getting a good education.
One part of my dream is helping the needy. I can do this by donating money and
clothes to charities like the American Red Cross. I can also cook at homeless shelters in
my community. I can join organizations that help build houses for those who have lost
their homes. Helping the needy is a big deal to my family, friends, and me. Last week
my brother and I saved up $200 to give to a homeless man. Later that day, the man we
gave the money to came back and repaid us by giving us two tickets to the movies. I
realized that helping the needy can make a difference at that very moment.
It can hurt someone’s feelings when you bully them or they can get hurt
physically. Putting an end to bullying is also a part of my dream. Bullying, especially
cyber bullying, should be stopped. Like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said I believe that
“All children should be judged by the content of their character.” Judging people is
definitely a form of bullying.
Getting an education can be really fun when you actually pay attention to your
teacher. Some people end up in jail when they choose not to get a good education. In jail
they don’t have great educational programs like we do. My cousin, Chris went to jail
when he was ten so he did not learn very much. I, Mardochee Dajuste, am receiving a
great education in school. I hope that I will continue to learn more things in school. I
also hope that children all around the world will also.
I have a dream that people will be kind to each other and we will live in peace and
harmony. As far as what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did, I will do also. I will make my
dream, which is to make the world a better place come true, by helping the needy, ending
bullying, and getting a good education. I also hope other kids around the world like me
get an education too. It is so important to remember who Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was
and what he stood for.
Najuan Thomas
English Nine
Irvington High School
Ms. Jodina Brizell
Third Place Winner
In my opinion, I can improve the quality of life in my neighborhood by stopping the
violence that is occurring each and every day. Dr. King stated, “We must forever conduct our
struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline”. We have to stop killing one another and
start sticking together, no matter what. President Obama stated, “And above all, I will ask you to
join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years
block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”
President Obama really wants to put an end to all the hatred, violence, gangs, and other
harmful things that separates this nation. Both Dr. King and President Obama inspire me to
change the neighborhood I live in now. Many things happen every day because children are
easily influenced. Sometimes children get themselves into situations they have trouble getting
out of. Also, the schools have a very high level of violence. Everyone in the community should
come together to help decrease violence. Dr. King stated, “We must not allow our creative
protest to degenerate into physical violence.” When we think of creative ways to stop violence,
this will encourage everyone to help rebuild the community.
There should be more of a police presence. Police should also patrol every block in
Irvington. This will help decrease the number people that are harming our youth. If everyone
were to stick together as one, we could finally live in peace; our ancestors did not labor so
intensely for us to live through this type of violence. Now that Dr. King and Barack Obama have
led the path, we should not turn against one another.
President Obama wants America to change and it’s not going to work if the citizens show
no effort. People should always remember what their ancestors did for this nation. They died for
this nation and we should never forget that. President Obama has many obstacles to face on a
daily basis. He has the challenge of uniting this nation, and it will only work if we show an
interest in decreasing violence.
Nasir Mackey
Grade Eight
University Middle School
Mr. Nicholas Garnett
Third Place Winner
Today discrimination and prejudice has a major impact all over the world but especially in
America. After Martin Luther King, Jr. gave the great speech, “I Have A Dream,” things still didn't
change, and some people still judge us by our skin color, appearance religion, or gender. They don't
care if we are different. The only thing they care about is what they see and how black people act or
what they have done in the past. They think that is how all black people act but it is not just black
people. It is people all over the world.
In America, racism is the second biggest problem because people are judged by their race. Dr.
King said, “One hundred years later, the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the
Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination... and finds
himself in exile in his own land.” Even though we may be able to vote now, we are still judged by our
race. For example, in the year 2012, a Caucasian woman went to go to see the movie called “The
Hunger Games” and the little girl in the movie was black. The woman said, “Why does that negro girl
have to play that role?” It's not just black people; it is everyone all over the world.
Also, today single moms will most likely not be hired for a job because bosses believe they will
not be dedicated to their job duties. The bosses think that parents will put their child before the
business. In an article I read, participants said, “We would hire 84% of the women without children,
compared to only 47% of the mothers. In assigning a starting salary to the applicants, given a pay
range appropriate for the job, participants offered women without children an average of $11,000 more
than mothers.” Dr. King said we should be judged “by the content of our character,” and not by
anything else. Single moms are not getting hired because of their children and gender. However, if a
man would apply and he was a single father, would companies hire him?
Furthermore, discrimination of sexual orientation is a major problem in every society. Some
people are getting killed because of their sexuality, but who is society to decide people's sexual
preference? In 2009, congress passed the Mathew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention
Act. The law extended protection to violent hate crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived
sexual orientation, gender identity, including anti-gay crimes. Later, they passed the Purer Hate Crime
Law. However, people are still hurting or killing others because they are gay. I believe these laws
weren't helpful. Again, Dr. King stressed that we should be judged by the content of our character.
In conclusion, in order to stop these chaotic events, we must come together and arrange an
agreement so we can live in harmony. We should be able to live without being judged according to our
race and being hated against for no reason, single mothers should not be denied jobs because they have
a child or children. People should not be beaten up because of their religion or sexuality. For these
reasons, America still isn't a fair and just society, but if we can come together, we can truly be “free at
last!”
Nathan Antwi
Grade Seven
University Middle School
Ms. Erica Hofler-Mattaur
Third Place Winner
Everyone in America either knows what he has done for African Americans
everywhere or has at least heard his name. Some people call him MLK; others call him
Martin Luther King. I call him Michael King, his true name. If it wasn't for him,
Caucasians and African Americans might still have separate bathrooms, restaurants, and
schools. It was not just he, but there were also people like John Lewis, Whitney Young,
Eleanor Roosevelt, and so many others that contributed to the unification of these two
great races. Sadly, what Dr. King and so many others fought so hard to stop still occurs
to this very day. Enough with prejudice and discrimination!
Prejudice is judging someone before even getting to know them, which is absurd!
How can you judge someone before getting to know them? My teacher once told my
class that one of her sons was a troublemaker at college; so when his sister started to
attend the same college as her brother, the teacher assumed that the sibling's behavior was
similar. You see prejudice can come in all shapes and sizes. In the “I Have A Dream”
speech, Dr. King talked about equal opportunity. The teacher should have given her a
chance to show her own uniqueness and to show that she was not like her older brother.
Discrimination is treating one person better than another based on their race or
skin color. In Dr. King's “I Have A Dream” speech, he talked about the “winds of
brutality.” An example of this is the Rodney King court case. Rodney King was forced
out of his car, because he was driving drunk on the highway. Then, two policemen
savagely beat Rodney a total of fifty-six times with a baton and kicked him six times.
This is the “sweltering heat of injustice” that Dr. King was talking about. It was not right
for those officers to beat Rodney King. That is not justice. Discrimination can happen in
all shapes and sizes. When a fashion director picks a thinner model over a heavier one,
that is discrimination. Discrimination can take on many forms.
What so many civil rights leaders tried to do was stop segregation, establish
equality, and stop racism. They did not fail, but compared to the amount of
discrimination and prejudice back in the 1960's, there is an enormous difference today.
Discrimination was more obvious and evident than it is today. I feel that Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.'s dream did come true. Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles,
Protestants and Catholics will all be able to join hands and fight prejudice and
discrimination together.
Nehemie Clitus
Grade Five
Thurgood Marshall School
Mr. Jerry Austin
Third Place Winner
Today, brothers and sisters and people of all colors and creeds are not being teammates,
but are being opponents instead. We are taking the wrong path rather than the right path towards
salvation. People are not getting an education, but are committing violence, and equality is not
evident, but most of all, people are not trying to do what they know is right. These are the
problems that need to be solved in order for the world to be a better place.
As a young fifth grader, I recognize that education is very relevant and essential to our
lives. Without a quality education you cannot pursue a good job or career, and when you are
unable to get sufficient work you might start selling drugs and doing other bad things for money.
When you have an education you will have the knowledge to do what’s right and not what’s
wrong. If everyone puts effort into trying to get an education, it will solve a lot of problems in
our world today.
Another major problem is the violence that exists in our world. This world will never be a
better place if the violence doesn’t stop now. There's too much gang banging, drugs, and violent
crimes. Throughout my lifetime I have watched the news and experienced a series of horrible
occasions such as crimes and war. I have a dream that one day we will live peaceful lives in
which no criminals, fugitives from justice and gang bangers will live in. We can make that dream
come true by doing the right things and living the right way. If we cut out the violence we will be
living in a peaceful world. That new world will contain brothers and sisters being partners not
adversaries, a world of no gangs and no criminals. How much would you love to live in a place
like this? Stopping the violence will indeed help the world become a better place.
Equality definitely needs to be shown in order for this world to be a better world. The
doors to equality should be open to everyone, especially those who have the potential to do great
things with the blessing of opportunity. When immigrants come to America it is exceedingly
hard for them to get work. I believe this should change. Once they obtain citizenship, I think they
should receive the same opportunities as other Americans. This is why equality is important in
order to make our world a better place.
Finally, if we want this world to be a better place we need to try doing what we know is
right. We must encourage others to do the right thing. If you see someone doing wrong you
should attempt to stop them. Do not accompany them, but stop them from their bad deeds. As
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said so well in his “I Have A Dream” speech “... In the process of
gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.” Once you get the memo,
pass it on to everyone you know. They should try doing what they know is right. When everyone
does what they know is right, there is no doubt that this world will be a better place.
All in all, if people get an education, if equality is evident, if people stop the violence and
if people do the right thing, this world will be a better world. You can do it! I can do it! We can
do it!
Nia Billups
Grade Ten
Irvington High School
Ms. Dharani Takkellapati
Second Place Winner
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning
of its creed,” said Dr. Martin Luther King. As African Americans, we have seen the
worst. We lived through slavery, segregation, racial discrimination, the Civil Rights
Movement, etc. After many speeches, riots, and protests, we have attained the power to
vote. However, are we really taking advantage of the equality that is promised to us?
Why are we still poor, illiterate and stereo-typed? What is it that is lacking in us to make
a mark on our children’s lives? When I think of these questions, only one answer comes
to my mind, and that is the lack of quality in our lives. In order to change our financial
conditions, we need to undergo a positive transformation, which is only possible through
good education. It is through good education that we can be successful in life. Quality of
life is leading our lives without violence, which is the primary cause of our generation
ending in either jail or dead. Quality of life is also having cleaner surroundings.
First, I would like to say that education will improve the quality of life because
education is what teaches us the skills required. We not only acquire the skills, but also
differentiate between right from wrong. An education helps you make wise decisions, and
teaches us to lead respectable lives. It is imperative that our young children stay in
school, graduate, and move on to college, so that they can lead decent lives. President
Obama says, “Quitting high school is like quitting on your country.” With education, our
generation can go far and beyond to achieve bigger and better things. Academic programs
should be the focal point more than basketball, and football games because that is what
Irvington High School cares about the most. According to Dr. King, “Education must
enable a man to become more efficient to achieve with an increasing facility the
legitimate goals of his life”. Once we attain a good education, it will be easier to get into
good careers, make a mark, and be somebody in life. Who knows, someone might just
look at you as their role model?
Secondly, I strongly believe that violence is the most important aspect of our lives
where we need to invest our efforts to improve the quality of life. This problem can be
dealt with effectively only if we are unified as a town. In order to achieve peace in our
community, the people of Irvington should respect each other, and have a feeling of
brotherhood amongst us. A close knit community is what we need in Irvington and that
can make a huge difference in our youth. This is a community that lacks trust and respect.
If all the citizens come together under a good leader, we can put an end to the crimes. We
need to stand by each other in our time of need and promote a sense of belonging. Dr.
King once said, “I have a dream that we of ALL colors should come together as one and
stop the hate and violence.” We can reduce the crime or violence rate if we can organize
Neighborhood Watch Units, and bring awareness among the youth to stop gun violence.
We do not want to lose any more of our generation than we already have.
Nia Billups
Grade Ten
Irvington High School
Ms. Dharani Takkellapati
Second Place Winner
Thirdly, pollution in our town also plays a major role because it demonstrates that we
do not respect ourselves. When you throw trash wherever you want and not care, it shows
that you do not possess self-respect. The streets of Irvington are very much polluted. We
have garbage cans all over Irvington, but we still throw the trash on the ground and
continue to do so. Your character is, “Who you are when no one is watching you.” It is
extremely important that we respect ourselves, our surroundings, and our community. It
would help if the laws are enforced better. Also, it is my strong belief that once the
Irvington police stick to their word and fine the residents, we will see a positive change.
In conclusion, we have much work to do in order to achieve Dr. King’s “I have a
dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”. As a community,
we need to be united, teach our children respect, and get them educated so that they can
make wise decisions. These factors will help us improve the quality of our lives.
President Obama’s wisely said, “A good education is no longer just a pathway to
opportunity—it is a prerequisite”.
Olasunkanmi Fadojutimi
Grade Twelve
Irvington High School
Dr. Hiawatha Goins-Baron
Second Place Winner
As advocates of advancements and jurors of justice, both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and
President Barack Obama carry similar ideals. These ideals are apparent in Dr. King’s “I Have a
Dream” speech and President Obama’s 2008 acceptance speech. In both speeches, the topics of
hope, unity, and change are discussed in great detail. Personally, I strongly feel like these are the
themes that create the foundation of the speeches, making them the most important. The three
points this essay will highlight are hope, change and unity. These themes are also strongly
interrelated and all share a commonality that inspires all people. All change comes to fruition as
a result of a hope. Moreover, transferring that hope into actual change requires a strong unity
between a group or organization. Although the situations were different when these two speeches
were offered, the core message remains the same. In order to change positive and progressive
hopes into reality, a strong sense of unity is essential. These words reign true regardless of the
level of utilization. Therefore, these influential themes can be used in order to improve the
quality of life in neighborhoods worldwide, including my own community of Irvington, New
Jersey.
During the 1960s, African Americans and all minorities faced a blatant rejection pertaining to
their equality. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s concept of change is slightly different from President
Obama’s. In his “I have a Dream” speech, Dr. King referenced change as in the mindset of the
United States at time. He stated, “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every
hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places made plain and the crooked places will be
made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and flesh see it together. This is our
hope.” (P.5) He wanted the change to include racial equality and nonviolent peace. President
Obama hoped for a similar brotherhood of the American people in order to obtain his idea of
change. He included in his speech “What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter
must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the
chance for use to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things
were. It cannot happen without you.” (P.9) President Obama has also had the pleasure of
enjoying the fruits of his labor, while Dr. King did not have that same opportunity unfortunately.
In my own community, my observations have resulted in my own set of desired changes. I plan
to change the wearing of pants below the belt (sagging), gang banging, and other negative
behaviors of neighboring residents that create the plethora of negative stereotypes. This plan will
be carried out by speaking to my peers about the image they create of themselves when they
participate in these detrimental activities. This will create conscious awareness among the youth
of Irvington and the generations to follow that prohibit the development of a positive image.
In addition, the theme of hope was referred to heavily in both speeches. Dr. King hoped for the
minorities to become equal in treatment and perception. He had a dream that included “I have a
dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by
the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (P.4) President Barack Obama ran
Olasunkanmi Fadojutimi
Grade Twelve
Irvington High School
Dr. Hiawatha Goins-Baron
Second Place Winner
his entire 2008 presidential campaign on hope and change. He had a hope that the people be
progressive enough to disregard the color of his skin and vote based on his policies. In modern
times, the segregation between minorities and Caucasians has decreased extremely. The only
thing remaining is for minorities to take advantage of all the things the previous generation
fought for us to have. Equal participation in clubs, academics, and sports provide many avenues
to success. I personally hope that my peers begin and continue to consistently use the multitude
of resources at their disposal. Acknowledging my own voice, I can take responsibility for
making citizens of Irvington turn their hopes into reality. I will utilize networking skills in order
to find qualified guest speakers to speak at each Irvington public school. I can also hold a
program during the month of January at Irvington High School informing underclassmen of the
numerous programs and clubs they can join to achieve their hopes.
Thirdly, both Dr. King and President Obama recognized the importance of unity in order to
accomplish their hopes of change. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. personally acknowledged that not
all the whites desire to oppress blacks. He stated ‘The marvelous new militancy which has
engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all White people, for many of our
white brothers, as evidenced by their presence her today, have come to realize that their destiny
is tied up with our destiny.” (P.3) In like manner, President Obama also paid respect to the
essence of unity to his campaign’s success. He reminded the American people of this in his
speech saying “Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot
have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – this country, we rise or fall as one nation;
as one people.” (P.9) in synopsis, neither side of government can completely succeed without the
aid of the other. At the end of the day, coming together and compromising is inevitable part of a
success process that includes multi-party involvement. Personally I highly advocate unity. In my
community, I am involved in various clubs that include the National Honor Society and the
Irvington High School Sigma Beta Club. In the Sigma Beta Club especially, brotherhood is
mandatory as a result of it being one of our three ideals. Our three ideals are Brotherhood,
Scholarship, and Service. This means becoming your brother’s keeper. Making sure that your
brothers are staying motivated and keeping up with their responsibilities. Programs and
organizations such as this help create unity within our communities and promote success for all
involved. As a result, I will continue to spread the word about joining clubs such as the Sigma
Beta Club in order to promote unity in my community.
With all things considered, despite the disparity, Dr. Martin Luther King and President Barack
Obama shared multiple visions and ideas. Both individuals decided to make history by doing
something that has never been done. President Obama became the first African-American
President of the United States of America. Equally impressive, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lead
his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech to conclude the March on Washington at the Lincoln
Memorial with people as far as the eye can see, packed to hear him speak. Although the speeches
are different, they both encompass the necessity of hope, change, and unity. Hope is essential to
Olasunkanmi Fadojutimi
Grade Twelve
Irvington High School
Dr. Hiawatha Goins-Baron
Second Place Winner
improving the quality of life because without it, the resulting pessimism would render the
completion of any goal impossible. Change is essential to improving the quality of life because
completing a major achievement is extremely difficult without help. Both of these extraordinary
individuals delivered elegant and eloquent speeches that will be remembered for generations to
come. If there are any major differences in both speeches, it would be the mottos of the orators.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. repeated “I Have a Dream” in his speech while President Obama did
the comparable by stating “Yes We Can.” Therefore, I am persuaded to dissect both speeches in
order to find ideas and improve the quality in my neighborhood.
Onyiyechi Anyanwu
Grade Six
Union Avenue Middle School
Mrs. Laura Jones
First Place Winner
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once exclaimed, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God
almighty we are free at last!'' This quote means that he hoped that one day African
Americans would be free from all discrimination, segregation, and prejudice. To explain,
discrimination is a difference in treatment based on unjust reasons. Prejudice is an
opinion made without adequate information. Discrimination and prejudice still impact
our world today because there are people who still judge others based on their ethnicity
and nationality.
First of all, one example of discrimination today is that people are still being judged
based on their ethnicity and nationality. For example, many African Americans are being
judged just because of their appearance and skin color. I think everybody should be
treated fairly because nobody would like it to be done to them. We all know this is not
fair. As Dr. King has said, “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of
racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” We should at least try our best to treat
others with respect. I remember this one time when I was discriminated against when I
went to the candy store with my mom and brother. When I went inside, the cashier
looked at me with a hateful face and made me feel uncomfortable. I felt like she thought I
was going to steal some candy because of my skin color. I am proud to be black, and I
don't care what anybody thinks!
Secondly, I am against discrimination and prejudice. I want to try to stop
discrimination myself. If I do discriminate and prejudge others, then I am just bringing
more ignorance to the world and no change to the future. As Dr. King has said, ''Let us
not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and
hatred.” We need to stop discrimination and prejudice or our world will be lead to be a
vile place to live. An example of this is when President Barack Obama was being
discriminated against publicly on the Internet. I saw how he was called a ''monkey”
because he is black. People should stop such disrespect!
In conclusion, we need to stop discrimination and prejudice and make a big difference
for a better tomorrow. Judging people based on their ethnicity and nationality has to
stop. We need to make discrimination and prejudice no longer exist. President Barack
Obama said our country needs to move forward. We all should go forward because by
going backwards it can cause us not to make a big change. ''Change will not come if you
seek for it, it will come when you change,'' said President Barack Obama. In my life, I am
going to stop saying, “I will do this, I will do that,” but in turn, never do it. In the future,
I am hoping that every person will treat others fairly and stop discrimination, segregation,
and prejudice.
Rachelle Pittman
Grade Nine
Irvington High School
Mr. Keith Kurtzer
Second Place Winner
Irvington is our place where we grew up and have lived. Our town, like many others, is
fraught with its share of problems. These problems are rooted not only in our actions, but also in
our words, our knowledge, and how we treat one another. You can see it through our contact,
our education and how we treat the environment. We, as residents of Irvington, should attend to
these needs. With help from the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King and Barack Obama, I will
share some thoughts on how this can be accomplished.
Did you know that the school’s 58% graduation rate is lower than the state’s rate of 98%?
Dr. King says, “This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing
drug of gradualism.” This quote pertains to us and our graduation rate. We need to raise not only
our graduation rate, but also our expectations. Irvington may not have the financial resources of
nearby towns, but we have knowledge, tenacity, and innovation. As our president, Barack
Obama says, “…You can choose a future where more Americans have the chance to gain the
skills they need to compete, no matter how old they are or how much money they have.” Our
education is one of the most important things that we need in our state. We cannot make marked
improvement without hard work and dedication. If we come together as a town and realize that
the future of our graduates is at stake, we can certainly continue to radically improve our
graduation rate.
We also need to improve our environment and maintain it better. This is not just about
sanitation, but also beautification. For example, parking in Irvington Center is always
challenging. It can literally take all day to find a parking spot. We need to have municipal lots
which provide adequate parking and shopping convenience. Another issue is the care and
maintenance of the many trees in our township. After Hurricane Sandy, it became apparent that
we need to be more proactive in terms of trimming, and removing dead trees. We should not
only cut down trees which seem hazardous, but also replant small trees. After the Hurricane all
the street lights were out for a long time and this was very unsafe.
One historical fact that I myself found very interesting is about Olympic Park. Did you
know that Irvington was once the town that boasted one of the best amusement parks in the
state? Well, it did and it was called Olympic Park. It was in existence from 1887 until 1965.
Rebuilding Olympic Park would promote a beautiful venue for families of all cultures to get
together and interact. If we are able to rebuild this park it would be a huge economic boon for the
community.
Safety is a very important issue for our town. Irvington is not known for violent
behavior, but it can turn violent fast. The high school is right across from the police station;
nevertheless, many times it takes the police too long to respond to an incident. Dr. King said,
“This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be
Rachelle Pittman
Grade Nine
Irvington High School
Mr. Keith Kurtzer
Second Place Winner
guaranteed the ‘unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’” Everyone has
the right to safety and well-being.
In conclusion, we mainly need to come together as members of this community. As I
have mentioned in this essay, Irvington has room for improvement, and through the collective
effort of each of us, this improvement can and should become a reality.
Rayonnah Freeman
Grade Four
University Elementary School
Ms. Ruby Robinson
Third Place Winner
The dream I have to make the world a better place is to change myself before I try to change
the world. I need to work more on myself before I try to fight against violence, drugs, poverty,
and crime. I want to try hard in school so that when I get older, I can inspire young kids about
the words and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Maybe those kids can look back on Dr. King’s
life and make the changes needed for a better world. I will inspire kids to follow the rule, so that
we all can live in harmony. In school, I will try my best each and every day. I am not perfect, so
I will be sure to work on my own mistakes first.
I also dream to make the world a better place by putting up signs to tell people to do their
best, to always do the right thing, to stop all the violence, and to spread peace. I will put up signs
that tell people to stop judging other people by the color of their skin, and instead by the “content
of their character” as Dr. King spoke about in his “I Have a Dream” speech. I want to make the
world a better place by stopping all the nonsense that goes on out in the streets.
I might put up a sign with the words of Gandhi who said, “Be the change you wish to see in
the world.” In order to make a better place, I will become the respect I wish to receive in return.
Maybe I will put up a sign that says, “Change yourself and the change will be in you.” It is
important that I work on myself before I begin to fight for the world to become a better place. I
want to inspire children and adults around the world to finish school and to try their best. I will
help people decrease the bad things and help them increase the good things that go on in the
world.
I will live my life using Dr. King’s words, “Hate cannot drive hate. Only love can do that.” I
will keep Dr. King’s words in my heart. I will use the love he spoke about to pursue working on
my dream and me. My dream begins by changing myself before I try to change anything else.
Reina Davis
Grade Four
Berkeley Terrace School
Ms. Marquiessa Lewis
Second Place Winner
Have you ever dreamed that you could make the world a better place? My dream is to
stop bullying. Dr. King said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that
matter.” To me, bullying is a very important issue and we have to do something to stop it.
I think it is important because kids all around the world get bullied. That is something I
want to stop. Sometimes kids get bullied because of who their families are, or what their skin
color is. They feel so depressed.
There are many things that we can do to stop bullying. If we see someone getting
bullied, we can tell a grown-up. Instead of just standing by, we can help a lot. That is what I
want to do.
I think I would ask my principal to create a website for children who have been bullied.
Also, I can ask the guidance counselor to have a word with the kids, and to try to help.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that he wanted people not to be judged by their color, but
by their actions. If we work together to treat people as equals, our world will be a better place.
Samara Frazier
Grade Eight
Union Avenue Middle School
Ms. Penelope Giordano
Second Place Winner
“One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the
manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” This quote comes from the
famous “I Have a Dream” speech given by the renowned Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His
speech inspired many African-Americans and helped to obliterate prejudice and
discrimination. Yet those issues still pervade our society today. People of all
backgrounds are being discriminated against every day for their sex, language, and race.
To begin with, when women are discriminated against, you miss out on learning
and utilizing their full potential. I once tried to get a job raking leaves with my brother.
This older gentleman, however, told me I couldn’t do it because I was a girl! Instead, he
hired my brother and one of his male friends. This shocked me. Haven’t we been taught
that everyone should have an equal opportunity in all experiences?
“We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood
and robbed of their dignity by signs stating ‘For Whites Only.’” Some of society today
still remembers those hurtful signs, and even though today, 2013, that type of prejudice
does not exist, it has been replaced with judgment of ethnicity. According to some, we
are not Americans; we are Haitian, Jamaican, Nigerian, and Dominican. With those
labels comes a different type of segregation, segregation by language. But not the English
language, I’m speaking of other languages. Some of these citizens, although they are in
America and take advantage of all that this country has to offer, still choose not to
assimilate and speak English. I sat with a diverse group of peers at lunch one day. I
believe they refused to speak English in front of me. Knowing they could speak English
but made a conscious decision not to was very hurtful. I know I could have offered a lot
to their conversation, made them laugh, given advice, but they decided to exclude me. It
was as if a bee stung me; that’s how hurt I was.
Finally, many people don’t understand the harm they can inflict on someone when
they are treated unfairly. Racial discrimination was the main reason for Martin Luther
King’s crusade, but it is obviously still alive today. Even strangers pass judgment by a
glance at your clothes, skin color, or the company you keep. At an Uggs store once, I
asked to try on a pair of blue boots. Instead, the clerk brought out some slippers and said,
“This is the cheapest pair we have.” Maybe she felt I could not afford an expensive pair
because I was a teenager? Because I’m black? I honestly don’t think she meant to hurt
my feelings, but regardless, this is a relevant example of how words can bite.
All in all, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed, “Now is the time to make racial
justice a reality for all God’s children.” He fought for peace, and after experiencing
discrimination due to my sex, my language, and my race; I can truthfully say that it does
exist in our society today. What does this mean for our future generations and us? Many
Samara Frazier
Grade Eight
Union Avenue Middle School
Ms. Penelope Giordano
Second Place Winner
people are not getting their fair opportunity in this modern world. This is not fair. Ask
yourself, Is this what Dr. King lived and died for?
Selena Monroe
Grade Six
University Middle School
Mr. Phil Stevenson
Third Place Winner
The reason I think prejudice and discrimination impacts our world today is there
are still people in the world who like to judge others by their skin tone, their looks, and
their character traits. Dr. King said, “...One day right there in Alabama, little black boys
and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters
and brothers.” And so, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was saying that we need stop the
violence. We also need to learn how to settle disagreements with peace, and don't
criticize others. To prejudge and discriminate is not the key to having an equal world.
If we all have respect for others by starting off small, then we are making
ourselves happier, and also making God smile. One of Dr. King's statements that touch
on this topic is, “Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now
be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.” This
statement is saying that people can judge all they want, but in the future they will take
back their words or as we say now, “swallow their words.” To be honest, we are always
so quick to judge and discriminate others on what they do or wear, but we don't even look
at ourselves and how we step out into the world.
As a child growing up and playing with my peers, I learned that children don't see
their classmates as being prejudice, or as a threat. It is only when children begin to grow
older that society starts putting labels on different types of races. We were one nation in
Dr. King's eyes and therefore we should not be characterized as different classes of
people.
Being prejudice toward someone not only hurts them, but it also hurts you,
because when you walk around and make your own conclusion about someone or their
race, you are judging them. God is the only judge; I feel that he is the only one that has
the right to judge.
How can we as a nation discriminate or be prejudice against another, when in
reality a lot of us do not know ourselves. Everyday God gives us a new day to learn
something new and therefore we have room to grow into wiser human beings. Dr. King
really wanted all of us to realize that by sharing ideas with one another, we can lean how
to work out our differences and change our way of thinking about each other.
In conclusion, prejudging or discriminating against another human being causes
us to become separated from one another. As a nation, we have a lot of different races
and if we continue to put people in a box and put labels on them, then we are not living
the dream that Dr. King tried so hard to achieve.
Syprian Nyaberi
Grade Twelve
Irvington High School
Ms. Sarah Sutton
Third Place Winner
One of the most prominent leaders of men who epitomized humility, Mahatma Gandhi,
once stated, “You must be the change you want to witness in the world.” In this very insightful
quote, Gandhi emphasizes that in order for our dreams and aspirations for a better livelihood to
become reality, we have to embark on an initiative to achieve the changes we wish to create, for
the burden falls upon us to realize our arsenal of capabilities, and commit to making a difference
in our society. We all have a vision, a dream, or at least an idealized conclusion of what we
aspire to be the ideal conditions in our communities. In my community, we have encountered
various challenges such as poverty, violence, corruption amongst appointed officials, ineffective
leaders, among others, which have deprived us of the quality of life in our community. The
responsibility falls upon me, as an inhabitant in this community, to contribute to the development
of a more suitable living environment and improvement of the quality of life within the
community.
To begin with, before placing the blame on others for our incompatible living
environment, which has worsened the quality of life in this community, we have to glare at the
“man in the mirror,” and seek to incorporate changes within ourselves. Likewise, I have to reflect
upon myself and aspire to initiate changes, which would improve the quality of life in my
community, beginning with stressing the essence and vitality of education throughout the
community, especially amongst our youth. I have witnessed too many of my fellow peers
undermine the importance of education, simply because they still have not quite grasped the
fundamental importance of education. I have to take it upon myself to enlighten my peers about
the infinite amount of opportunities that education presents and the variety of doors education
opens, using social media, among other commercial tools, which are interactive and most
importantly connected to our youth. As declared by our commander in chief himself, “This is our
time to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids,” the doors of opportunity opened by
education.
In addition, similar to the poem “A Dream Deferred,” by the great Langston Hughes, the
responsibility lies upon me to take action, and fulfill my goals and aspirations to create a
significantly improved content of the quality of life within my community. Otherwise, my dream
would become deferred, and “dry up like a raisin in the sun”. The responsibility once again falls
upon me to become engaged in non-profit programs and organizations, such as the Red Cross,
which aims to aid the less fortunate, and promote non-violence, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
himself strongly urged in his highly impactful speech, “Again and again, we must rise to the
majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” Meaning, we must acquire the
discipline and mental strength to avoid using violence as the answer to settling our disputes and
disagreements in our community. Moreover, I must also strongly urge the members of the
community to use their precious right to vote, a right granted only through the perseverance and
relentlessness of our ancestors, for the leaders who we view as best suitable to steer this
community towards a positive direction.
Syprian Nyaberi
Grade Twelve
Irvington High School
Ms. Sarah Sutton
Third Place Winner
Furthermore, although a collective effort is essential, as individuals we have the ability to
spark and significantly influence others to join us in the struggle to embark on a viable effort to
make significant changes in our community. Similarly, in order for me to improve the quality of
life in this community, the involvement of the members of the community will be vital, and it
would be up to me to establish a collective effort, consisting of all community members, to make
the necessary changes. In addition, I will have to be determined to establish unity and
togetherness amongst ourselves as members of our community, with all our differences aside; we
will become a union, focused solely on accomplishing the tough task, which lies ahead. Because
the day we unite as a people in harmony, will also be the day when the possibilities become
endless and our capability to bring forth change becomes infinite.
In conclusion, with passion, will, and determination, a positive change can and will be
reached and the quality of life in this community will surely be improved. Although it cannot be
done alone, it all begins with us as individual beings; as it is we who have to make the
declaration to initiate positive change in our habitats and beyond. President Obama said it best,
“This is our time … To restore prosperity and promote cause of peace; to reclaim the American
Dream and reaffirm the fundamental truth that out of many, we are one.” The moment of truth
has truly arrived, and the time for us to unite together and make a change is now.
Zekiah Enos
Grade 5
Mt. Vernon Elementary
Dr. Donna Beck
First Place Winner
What does hearing Dr. King’s voice do to you? Well, as I reflect on Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr’s “I have a Dream” speech, I think of a time when people were made to
feel inferior and put down. I think of a man who encouraged people to uplift one another,
instead of pulling them down. I think of how Dr. King wanted to make this world a
better place to live in. I especially love the part when he says, “I have a dream that my
four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of
their skin, but by their character.” Then it hit me, I strongly believe that Dr. King was
also talking about my dream to end bullying.
First of all, my dream is deeply rooted in the belief that you should do unto others,
as you would have them do unto you. My dream is to one day live in a bully-free world. I
would love for all children and adults to get along with one another. When you don’t like
or understand someone you should leave them alone. You should not say or do mean
things to mentally or physically hurt them.
Secondly, when you think about the past, you will see that bullying is nothing new.
Racist whites bullied black people before and during the civil rights movement. They
harassed blacks to keep them from voting. They blew up that church and killed those four
little girls, to scare Dr. King’s supporters. Blacks were made to sit in the back of the bus,
drink from different water fountains, and made to feel bad about the color of their skin.
Today, students still bully one another. They make other kids feel bad because of
the way they talk, their nationality, their weight, their sexuality, or because they are not
popular. Gossiping is a big problem. It has destroyed lives because some students just
can’t take the pain anymore. They drop out of school or hurt themselves. Girls tend to
be the biggest gossipers. Some girls use gossip to bring others down, so that they
themselves will feel more powerful. I guess this really makes them the weak ones. My
teacher says small and weak minds gossip, big and powerful minds dream. I have a
dream that one day all girls will know the importance of uplifting one another, and to
unite with “girl power.”
As for the boys, we are losing too many of them to violence. They, too, are
bullied and made to feel powerless. I think it’s worse because many of them don’t have
strong father figures around, to help them get through life. They turn to gangs for
strength and to prove that they are tough, so they will not be bullied. I have a dream that
fathers, uncles, and older male cousins, will step up and teach boys how to become
positive young men.
Finally, I would like to dedicate my “I have a dream” speech to Trayvon Martin.
Trayvon was a young man whose life was taken way too soon. It seems Trayvon was
judged and bullied because of the color of his skin. He was shot and killed because of the
way he looked, and what he had on. A young black man wearing a hoodie does not make
him a criminal. We have many too many Trayvon Martins in this world, too many girls
who gossip, and too many boys who need strong father figures.
To summarize, my dream is that everyone will take the time to dream. That they
would realize the pain they cause when they mentally or physically hurt others. Then they
will make a change to love thy brothers and sisters. Maybe then this will be a bully-free
and better world to live in. That would make Dr. King very happy.