Essay and Oratorical Committee /
Racial Justice Essay Contest
The Essay Contest provides a critical intergenerational engagement with young people that will inherit a community still plagued by the legacy of racial terror lynching.
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As a component of our historical marker project, EJI also sponsors an essay contest for public high school students. Students in grades 9-12 are challenged to write an essay that reflects on a historical event and connects it to present-day issues and their lived experiences.
EJI typically chooses 4 to 5 winners and awards at least $5,000 in scholarships and prizes. The winners are publicly announced during the dedication of the historical marker in their community and the first place winner is asked to read their essay during the program.
The Racial Justice Essay Contest Committee will complete this Community Engagement Project. Email to support or join the Committee.
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What's Next
Racial Terror is American and not just a phenomenon of the South. Explore Map of Violence
The dehumanizing myth of racial difference endures today because we don’t talk about it. The Racial Justice Essay Contest begins that conversation for young people.