Black History Oratory Competition 2023: Read the essays

Age 17, Grade 12, Baltimore 

Education, Education, Education   

Education, knowledge, school. These words have been used interchangeably to tell me different things. Christian, you better make sure you get your education. Christian, knowledge is power. Christian, school is your ticket out of here. Christian, knowledge will never leave you. Christian, they aren't teaching you what you need for life. At that stage in life, I didn't want to hear about that, from either side of the spectrum. I just wanted to sit in my room, play the game, and relax, a privilege not afforded to everyone, especially to these adults when they were my age. My grandma only got her high school diploma and had to work grueling hours to provide for my mom and uncle. My mom had a similar situation. So, to have the ability to go beyond a high school education was considered by them to be a landmark and an achievement.  

I view it as such too. The fact that I'm going to be a first-generation college student still boggles my mind. It's also coming full circle considering that I want to become an educator because I didn't intend to be a teacher but, here I am. But, being an educator, it's not only teaching the curriculum, as all of my teachers can attest to, it's also about making a difference in the lives of their students. Educators give time and energy in order to make sure that their students are doing well and that wellness will lead to success in their future.  

I see this being the same way in a multitude of families: the past wanting better for the future, the elders wishing to see the young ones being better than them in every facet. After all, the elders and their elders have seen their right to education be stripped away. All of the laws passed, punishments dealt with, and pushback from those in power led them to believe that being educated was the ultimate slap in the face to those who deterred them. To be educated was to be liberated, liberated from the cage of conformity to what they wanted them to believe—freedom from the trap of thinking that you're less than others. The ability to choose who you are and what you want to be with no one telling you otherwise. 

Age 15, Grade 10, Baltimore 

Ann. This is the name of a little girl who's always known exactly what she wanted and went for it. She's always been optimistic about the future and sure that things would work out for her, and if they didn't she knew she had the plan to fall back on. As she got older things changed but her optimism was unwavering. No matter what obstacle fell on her path she knew she would find a way around it. Ann was confident that everything would fall into place and that all her dreams would become a reality.  

I am Ann. Zariah Ann Smithwick. Ever since I was a child I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be an actress and a model, but I also wanted to be an activist. I wanted to be a nurse, a teacher, and a dancer; until I didn't. It all became too much to consider. I felt as if I wanted too many things out of life. I fell out of love with everything I once wanted, and around that same time, the optimism that once powered me ran out. I became scared of the future and of all the things I didn't know. All the possibilities in life terrified me and I started thinking that anything that could go wrong, would go wrong. My fear left me unwilling to try and make things happen, leaving me in a state of hopelessness that I was somewhat contemptuous of being in.  

To me, the quote "Impossibilities are merely things of which we have not learned, or which we do not wish to happen" tells the story of everyone. It tells the story of a world that's scared. Scared that they'll fail and that all the bumps they've hit throughout their journey would have been for nothing. Scared that the future they've been planning was simply something of their imagination. Someone once told me that fear has no power unless you give it power. As you grow you will learn more about yourself, and about what you want to be. You will develop many passions, all of which are worthy to be pursued. You will go through many things that will temporarily hinder your destiny, however it is up to you to decide if you will allow it to permanently halt your future. Fear is strong, it's all consuming and can swallow you whole if you allow it, however the passion you have for the things you desire in life is always stronger.  

Ann. The name of a little girl who's grown up and in spite of all rough patches in her journey, has fallen in love with all the possibilities in life that once terrified her.  

Age 17, Grade 11, Catonsville 

Free Like the Birds   

An enslaved man plows on a field. The scorching sun, blazing at its brightest and strongest, presses on him like the yoke he sees on the plowing oxen. His salty sweat drips from his brows down onto his cracked and open feet. Taking off his dusty and patchy straw hat, he looks up at the sky where a flock of birds flies in the distance. He doesn't know where they go or where they come from; he doesn't know the world outside. He doesn't know about the majestic plains that the birds fly across, and he doesn't know the golden sands of the east coast they soar above. He stares at them bound to his plow. 

George Washington Carver, an African American scientist said, "Education is the key to unlocking the golden gate of freedom."  Education is the tool by which we understand the realities of the world around us. An educated person understands themselves and their surroundings; they know what opportunities and risks lie in their path, and their imaginations are active to question and create. Before the abolishment of slavery, African Americans were deprived of any form of education by slave masters. Is it because education would make them unproductive? Fredrick Douglass stated that if you rob a man of his ability to learn, you have enslaved him. When people are deprived of education, they have little to imagine, create, and hope for. The lack of education leaves the mind oblivious to its bondage and incapable of creating, imagining, and hoping. An idle mind makes an ignorant person, and an ignorant person can't be free. Do you see the cycle? It is only when small whispers give an enslaved woman knowledge of the free north that she can seek the path to freedom. It is when oppressed people learn the ideologies of democracy that they can rise against their oppressors.  

My grandfather always told me, "Learning will make you whole." But I wasn't one to sit down and enjoy a book, so I never paid much attention to his long and repetitive lectures on the living room couch. Sitting on the edge of the sofa with his big thousand-pager book in hand as his reading glasses magnified his serious look, he poured out this life lesson. Why he consistently encouraged me became clearer as I grew older. Growing up the son of a farmer in the undeveloped countryside of Ethiopia, he built a loving home and noble reputation through the help of God and his family. He knows that his relentless devotion to study helped him become a doctor and provide for his family. In the pages of many books and countless hours of learning, he found the tools he needed to break free from the shackles of poverty, fear, and ignorance. 

Education is our most potent weapon against the oppression of the mind and body. So, grab a book, learn a new skill, create, and explore the world. By any means, always educate yourself.  

Age 16, Grade 11, Essex

FEAR. Fear in its definition is a feeling, an emotion, a belief that can so easily destroy dreams, visions and if unaltered, destroy lives. It is a testimony for many successful people today to have pushed past fear, to just do it. If fear can have this much of a stronghold on us humans, then maybe it's more than just a feeling; it has a root. Maybe it has now become a habit, a habit strengthened by our words, our mindset, our heart posture. These habits begotten from fear now beget ACTIONS. Fear creates limited actions, subtle actions, infallible actions that cause us no pain or sacrifice to make. 

Instead of destroying fear, people get in the habit of making fear a personality. Society, especially the youth, has painted a canvas of pride due to the insecurities, the comparison that has been made prominent in our generation. "Be yourself and don't change yourself for anyone," that's good but there's more to "who you are" and people who convey this motive are often befuddled, not recognizing the difference between a clone and a person who is simply- inspired. And so this fear is boxed up in isolation and comfort, we never want to feel like we are incapable; fear of failure, we want to stay in the place where everything works; the comfort zone. Oh no, the danger zone. Nothing fails so we never learn, we don't fall, so we never rise.

Fear can even be inherited, generations after generations carry on this nature. I mean even young children, without being taught, have a fear of, "I can't do it," "they're gonna laugh at me". When we look at the parents, there is a pattern here, personalities and traits are passed down to our descendants, that's why children act like their parents. We live our lives and forget to deal with these habits, to deal with these fears, these traits. Because the children look at parents with a lens of inspiration, they have to suffer the burden of fighting the battle against fear. Madam C.J. Walker's authoritative tone pushes me to push past fear, she says "Don't sit down and wait for opportunities to come…Get up and make them!". The truth is preparation will always pave the way for opportunity. Yes, you may not have all you want, and the cycle keeps duplicating day after day but there's always something to do in every season. If you're waiting, locate an inspiration, be inspired. 

DEFEAT FEAR NOW! Defeat Fear because if the opportunities come and fear still presides, opportunities will seem inferior. Defeat fear so it doesn't defeat opportunities. While people are up and about doing things to survive, but more than surviving, the true pride is in what we do to "thrive." Listen, If we live our lives through the meniscus lens of the failures, the mistakes, the trials of our ancestors, we'll never be able to take hold of our own destiny  

Age 15, Grade 10, Columbia

I want you to think back to the time you received your first house key; the unparalleled sense of independence & freedom it brought. Whether you were a teenager that could now go home whenever you pleased or an adult renting your first house, you knew that you had a safe place to call home. "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom," as George Washington Carver so eloquently stated. For many Black Americans, however, this has not always been the case. Historically, they've been denied access to education and the opportunities that come with it. For education to truly be a key, it must be accessible and equitable for all and allow them to unlock their full potential. 

Terms like "equality" and "equity" are often used interchangeably; while equality gives everyone the same resources, equity recognizes everyone has different circumstances and ensures everyone has the resources they need to succeed. In the 1960s, Carver's quote would have been a call for integration, as seen with Ruby Bridges, who became the first African-American student to integrate. Today it means making schools more equitable. This includes providing counseling services, a support system of black authors and educators, and a curriculum that reflects the heritage and experiences of all students. These resources are crucial for students to be academically successful. Without them, the Jim Crow era of Black students, like Bridges, faced immense challenges in their pursuit of education.

These disparities are still very prevalent today. Just 20 minutes apart, Howard County and Baltimore City have vastly different post-graduate statistics. According to the 2018 Census, 60% of Howard County students went on to graduate college, while only 28.6% of Baltimore City students graduated college. Howard County students aren't inherently smarter or harder working, but they have access to better opportunities and higher-performing schools, which provide students with a more well-rounded education. 

Meanwhile, Baltimore City schools are underfunded, have higher student-teacher ratios, and lack access to the resources needed for students to succeed. They also have more metal detectors and law enforcement, which negatively impacts students' mental and emotional well-being, perpetuating the idea that students of color are inherently dangerous and need to be policed. All of these create a hostile and criminalizing environment for students of color, making it harder for them to receive an equitable education. 

For education to truly be a key, we must work towards equity. This means hiring more black teachers, mandating Black history and ethnic studies in the K-12 curriculum, and funding counselors, not school resource officers. Carver wanted everyone to have a key; now, we live in a time where people have keys but don't have houses or golden doors to walk through. We have to meet people where they are—not just hand out keys, but guarantee that every student, regardless of their background, has access to these doors. We must strive to create a world where everyone can access the golden door of freedom: where systemic barriers and discrimination cannot hinder them.  

Age 16, Grade 11, Baltimore 

Education is power. Education is change. Education is priceless. And in the words of George Washington Carver, "education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." Carver was an agricultural scientist and inventor. In 1894, he became the first African American to earn a Bachelor of Science degree, opening an entire world of opportunities not only for himself in his career, but for all other African Americans with dreams they had previously been told they could not achieve. 

In the 21st century, our generation has access to more knowledge than ever before. With social media, the internet, free public libraries, and so many more resources, there is great power at our fingerprints. But what matters the most is what we do with it. Education is not simply about absorbing all the information our heads can carry, but using that knowledge to make a positive change, no matter how big or small. That is how we use it to unlock that golden door of freedom. Use what you learn to find a passion and pursue it, use it to give yourself a seat at every table you have been kept from, and to open every door that has been locked to you.

Since seizing power last year, the Taliban has instituted a total ban on women and girls' education in Afghanistan. Until 1954, schools in the US were segregated, separating African American students from white ones, and preventing black students from receiving a quality education. During the 18th and 19th centuries, slaves were kept from learning to read and write as owners feared black literacy would threaten the slave system. If education was frivolous and its effects minuscule, why have those in power, that have it, made such an effort to prevent marginalized groups from receiving it? That is because education has the power to transform a person's life, mindset, and behavior. A complete and quality education can free a person from the mindset of "I can't" because it guarantees that you can. 

When you think of education, what comes to mind? A classroom? A teacher? A group of students? The truth is that education flows beyond the classroom walls. Education is never ending; you should never stop learning. You learn when you try new foods, you learn when you take risks and make mistakes. You can learn about the countries of the world, read books that interest you, learn new recipes, and observe and learn from the natural world around you. Learning happens when we do not fear or turn away from what we do not know, but instead, we embrace it and use it to grow and to continue opening those golden doors of freedom  

Age 17, Grade 12, Cockeysville 

I ask you three simple questions. Did the great leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. simply sit back and allow for the oppression of African Americans to perpetuate in our nation? — No, King masterfully delivered what is regarded as the most impactful and recognizable speeches in American history with his "I Have a Dream" speech. King spoke in the height of the civil Rights movement which directly undermined the oppression he faced. Did former President Barack Obama wait for another to become the first African American president? — No, Obama became the first black president to be elected in the United States in 2008. Did Madam C.J. Walker fail to act upon her desires of being a successful businesswoman? — No, Walker followed her dreams of entrepreneurship through women's hair products and became the first African American woman to accumulate a net worth over 1 million dollars despite being born into a family of sharecroppers. Her actions allowed countless others facing systemic issues in our nation to flourish. Madam C.J. Walker stated, "Don't sit down and wait for opportunities to come...Get up and make them!" These three inspirational leaders created their own opportunities despite the blatant sociological disadvantages that are deeply rooted in American society. Without these trailblazers taking charge and creating their own opportunities, our world as we know it would be a desolate and toxic wasteland lacking the possibility for anyone regardless of race, religion, or gender to make their own opportunities and better our society. It is paramount that we draw inspiration from the forementioned leaders and connect their willingness to take unprecedented initiatives to our own lives.

Opportunities to create and inspire a thriving sense of change and long-lasting impact are only achievable if direct action is taken by the beholder of said opportunity. Changes stemming from opportunities that an individual creates on their own can have implications on increased value of self and community. I have witnessed the advantageous impact that developing my own opportunities has had on myself and others. 

Last February I attended what would become my first of many meetings at my school's Black Excellence Club. I can admit that I was hesitant to attend the meeting at first; however, I was confident that I wanted to create a positive impact on my school's environment in a world that often lacks empathy and understanding. As a result of attending that meeting, I realized the bright spot of hope and inspiration that I could provide in my school through the promotion of diversity, equity, and equality. I had the chance to become the club secretary later in the year, which I graciously accepted. This one decision to put myself out there and create my own opportunity led to a multifaceted array of benefits. 

It is imperative as a society that we create our own opportunities and follow in the footsteps of Madam C.J. Walker and other leaders who have defined themselves through the opportunities they created. So, take charge and see the difference you make.  

Age 16, Grade 10, Catonsville 

Dear Mr. Ambiguous Racist Opportunity

A pandemic plague has erect 

Albert Einstein sai we conclude that love is the most powerful force because it has no limits

Imagine a world where love was infiite 

Don't sit around and wait to be a bystander in Black America

I pledge allegiance to the flag of warfare, distraught, bloodshed, massacre and hostility

How is it that you've still disunited our nation in 2023 with antagonism, deceit and strife 

One life despite the reckoning, disparity, md where our words aim like pistol bullets

Eric Garner 1 

Say there name 

All lives matter

Your life matters

His life matters 

Why does my skin matter - 

are still captive like slaves to their skin xolor

Why do these unseeingly curls puff out like

Why are my lips shaped the way they are

How many pages do we need to turn 

And turn

And turn

To start a new chapter 

I can't breathe

I can't breathe

I can't breathe

George Floyd 2 

Say there name 

Slavery was that chapter abolished - in the headlines - the truth is - venom only breeds police brutality and hasslement of dogs

Manuel Ellis 3

Say there name 

I can't breathe

She can't breathe

Breonna Taylor 4

Jeanette Williams 5 

I can't breathe 

Say there names 

All lives matter

I can't breathe 

Clashed into a ceasefire- ignited flames of hatred and malice with vengeful authority

You didn't let me have the last sip of iced water instead you raped us 

You cleched your hands around our necks

every breath we breathed and yet -

We still can't beathe 

Down the street 

I can't breathe

I'm the Car

He can't breathe 

In the schools 

They can't breathe

At the workplace 

I can't breathe

You drill the same name into our heads

Year by, year by, year by year

Decade by decade 

Malcolm X 6

Martin Luther King 7

Hariet Tubman 8

Rosa Parks 9

Try and imagine having an important debate where unity ifs evident outside political rhetoric by racism and hate instead of unity and disgrace

Instead, embrace with grace  

The fondness of the intimacy of friendliness 

And still, I can't breathe

You can't build what you've aready destructed in corruption in chained mental bob wire

Hidden figures in the intoxicated lunacy 

10 before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, a black 15 year old girl names Claudette Colvin did the same thing 

Yet don't let just sit and wait on an opportunity

Will Smith said that Racism isn't getting worse it's just getting filmed 

Over and over again

They say repetition is the definition of insanity the morality of the vitality of red, white and blue

The calamity of the hospitality, industrialized by a nation of irrationality 

The blame the blacks or the smaller ethical group saying they caused a crusade slamming the doors of

Diversity bit by bit, everything whole is alienated, white is the new black - our congregation isn't congruent to the progression we move backward within our society - regression - 

Hidden figures in the intoxicated lunacy 

11 The practice of vaccinations was brought to America by a slave. 

Do hurl and juke vile ponderous departure of genocide

Obliterated liberation of radicalism 

Emmett Till 12

13 Travon Martin

Bille Holiday 14

15 Bob Marley 

I can't breathe in sovereignty and emancipation unyoking 

manumission

The feeblest diversified crusade paralyzed and immobilized in lynching a suitable latitude of possibilities 

Distraught in dismantles disestablished disarray of epidemical waves of vigilance 

Warfare and savagery of bloody genocide 

Age 16, Grade 10, Baltimore 

Education is more than the key to freedom, it is freedom in itself. George Washington Carver, an 1890s African American Agricultural Scientist once said that "Education is the key to the golden door of freedom". We are not only able to be moved by his words, but by his story, which I wish I had time to tell.  

Taking a page out of Carver's book, I too believe that education is critical, not only for myself but for the legacy I will leave. This quote metaphorically exemplifies the sheer power that knowledge holds within it, how it opens doors, and to me, how the hunger for learning is a driving force in my life, and in everyone else's. Growing up as a black girl, I have had my fair share of doubts surrounding my relationship with intelligence, however, I have always found my education to be more than important. Since I could remember, my father has always called and introduced me as a "critical thinker" to anyone who would listen. As I look back on how I have been looked at and viewed in places of education, I notice a trend, surprise. For example, I notice surprise from anyone who hears me speak, as they make assumptions about my dialect, accent, and vocabulary, before I open my mouth, because of the color of my skin. I hear my white teachers tell my mother how "articulate" I am because obviously speaking well is not common for people who look like me. I hear my peers tell me that I am less black for speaking "properly" and I wonder, who decided what was proper and what was not, and why using slang held to this standard, because of course it is associated with black people. And finally, I hear a girl in my freshman year English class say "You really have that?" when pertaining to my good grades, yet here I am having them. I hear the surprise in all of their voices, and see it in their faces when I am able to tell them about classical music, or when I can analyze literature fully, and in detail. And truth be told, I love this surprise, I love the shock because I love using my smarts to show people that black people can do anything that anyone else can, and more, I love to break down their ignorance with my knowledge, and the power that it holds, a power that they do not expect anyone who looks like me to hold; but we do, and we wield it well.  

In closing, my education has gotten me many places and has granted me opportunities like excelling in an IB world school, and in my future, I know that it will take me even further. I have learned to draw my power from the knowledge that my ancestors held, the knowledge that I hold, and the knowledge that generations of black thinkers will uphold after me. 

Age 15, Grade 9, Owings Mills 

Nothing is truly impossible. When we rethink the word "impossible," we can reframe it as "I'm possible." What makes anything impossible is your mindset. Mindset is the powerhouse of life. Your mindset controls your thoughts, feelings and actions in everyday life. Knowledge is power. The power to learn, grow and change comes from within. As a society, we need to be more accepting and accommodating of people and change. To increase our knowledge and understanding, we have to be willing to conduct our own research to learn about our growing world. This is essential for us to be good global citizens. The only reason racism, ableism, all of those ISMs exist is because people refuse to accept and treat all people with the same dignity and respect with which they wish to be treated. As humans, we share approximately 99% percent of the same DNA; only 1 percent makes us different. 

As a little girl, at just 2 or 3 years old, I knew that I was different. As I grew and prospered, I knew this was a blessing. I knew I wasn't a burden but a gift. To be black and blind is an impossibly beautiful combination. Growing and understanding more about myself, I realized that I have the power to help facilitate the change that I want to see in the world. Educating people about disabilities, especially visual impairment and blindness, is something I must do, even as I obtain my own education. Learning and education are my passions, and through my passions, I am able to help others as well. To help others with their learning, I have been a guest speaker sharing my experiences on the topic of visual impairment and blindness to teachers in the BCPS system attending graduate classes at a local university. 

My love and passion for education is something that has developed over time. Even though I have little to no sight, I have always had a vision for my life. I aspire to impossible things. I fight every day to realize Ashanti Gillis my vision and my acceptance in a sighted world. At times, I feel that this sighted world was never made ready for my arrival. With the love, care and support of my family and a few dedicated teachers throughout the years, I have been educated in a typical school environment. I am proud to say that I have helped others to see beyond their original thinking about people with disabilities and evolve their understanding. Learning and understanding are the keys to impossible change. 

My goal is to be successful in anything that I desire. To reach my goal, I need people to not judge me because of the way I am. I need people to understand and remember that if someone has a disability, that doesn't mean they can't accomplish anything they desire. Pursue impossible dreams! I do!  

Age 16, Grade 11, Sykesville 

By measurable statistics, I am not meant to succeed. Some claim that life is a game of chance; but, its tricks and traps cause some to rise, and others to fall. The luck of the draw dictates my hand, preventing the intelligence card, the degree card, and the high-income card from being dealt to me. These crude probabilities weigh my heart down as my hand holding a losing deal falters. My poor outlook soon becomes exasperated by the cards I, an African woman, should be dealt: the husband card, the child card, the poverty card, and the inferior card; My attempts in vain as my golden air-tight door seals shut. 

As a black woman, my preferred characteristics for my carefully constructed identity are constantly decimated by those that are expected to be appropriated. When the crumpling weight of these odds flatten my mangled personality like a punch press; a realization hits me–the only thing that allows me to reconstruct myself is what I can control, my education. As I advance in knowledge, my winning chances increase, and my air-tight door can slowly nudge open. My faltering hand now steady, I'm able to re-assess my strategy and continue forward.  

When looking at what's seen as "success stories" we often examine those who've made a name for themselves in the history books, such as Mary McLeod Bethune. Creating schools for black children, not only was she able to educate herself but others as well; however, it's also important to examine those whose pages in history were never discovered. 

My grandmother Flematu Turay was a radiant Madinkan. Her robust build from trying days on the rice farms showcased how painstakingly diligent she was. During her game, a tough hand was given: a mother of seven, married at 14, and illiterate. Her golden door was shackled by the disadvantageous rules put in place. But that wouldn't stop her, her hands grew coarser through the threshing and cleaning, her back sorer from the haul drying and fielding. In the name of love, the name of knowledge, she gathered enough funds to educate all children, increasing their winning chances. As each child drew a degree card, a stiff chain rusted.  

A generation later, I contain quite the adequate hand: the literacy card, the intelligence card, and soon the diploma card will be added to my arsenal. But none of these would have even grazed me if it weren't for those who came before me.  

Whilst Bethune and my grandmother couldn't reach their full potential due to the unfair laws restricting them, their hard work allows others to have the opportunity to do so. Their contributions created pathways for them, and chances increase. The door becomes lighter, shackles are lifted, and greatness is achieved. 

As the wins pile up, the odds will soon be in our favor, and what was once a door, will turn into a walkway. The golden rays will shine on our faces and a game of chance will be a game of gain. 

Age 17, Grade 12, Freeland

Education is a key component for everyone's future. All throughout middle school and high school teachers and parents talk about how important focusing on school is. I knew my education would play a role in my future, but I never realized how far my college education and the connections I will make could take me in my future. George Carver said, "Education is key to unlock the golden door of freedom". Since entering high school and joining AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, I have come to understand how important my education is for me.

Carver refers to education as a key to unlocking your freedom because of the possibilities and opportunities having an education will provide you. Someone who understands the importance of education is Michelle Obama, who is an education activist for girls around the world. Michelle and Barack Obama launched "Let Girls Learn" in order to educate girls around the world. There are currently 62 million girls around the world who aren't in school and half of them are adolescents. Countries with more girls in secondary schools have "lower maternal mortality rates, lower infant mortality rates, lower rates of HIV/AIDS, and better child nutrition." The positives from educating girls are significant pieces to healthier communities and countries. Others have joined Michelle in the fight for education, like Priyanka Jonas, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie and many others. Along with the girls around the world who need an education, I have started to take my education more seriously. Since joining AVID I have been more self­ motivated to learn and succeed in school. I have been getting better grades, managed schoolwork with dance, clubs and honor societies and been accepted into colleges and received money for my grades. I have not even started my college career and I am already noticing the positive impacts my education has brought me.

Once I am in college, I plan to further my education by studying abroad and getting an internship. With my knowledge and experience, I will be able to unlock my golden door and have the freedom to choose my future path in life. Carver understood the possibilities of education and now has several schools that were opened in his honor. Caiver helped grow education and many celebrities and influential people are following in his footsteps. By growing the population of people who complete high school, go to college and get a job, we will be bette1ing people's lives and America's economy. \Vi.th an education, more people will be employed, have homes and grow stable families in order to continue in the cycle of life. With education, the possibilities are endless, your future is up to you with the freedom education gives you.

Age 18, Grade 12, White Hall

Everything is impossible until it isn't. The workings of the world today as we know it would be thought largely impossible by almost anyone 150 years ago. The human mind is constantly learning and adapting, daring to accomplish any challenge or feat that does not seem possible to the majority but is achievable by the efforts of a few. The possibility of anything is described by Charles W. Chesnutt in his famous quote, "Impossibilities are merely things of which we have not learned, or which we do not wish to happen."  

Charles W. Chesnutt was an American author and a political activist for people of color in the post-Civil War South. Chesnutt advocated for equality for African Americans in America during a time when black people were treated as less than human by the majority of society. He was known for his writings that explored the complexities of race and identity in the United States, particularly in the South. Chesnutt was proof that things could change, as few people, compared to the many, worked towards a goal, considered impossible by most of America. Chesnutt said that impossibilities are things that we do not wish to happen. The problem of racism doesn't require an extravagant solution that involves futuristic technology or a genius game plan. It was and still is a matter of simple will. A unified society can be made possible if people are willing to change and educate themselves on matters of race, and other cultures. Chesnutt and other activists who were committed to ending racism and providing insight into racial discrimination, imposed their will on many people through their works and movements, contributing to the improvement of acceptance and unity today. A task that seemed impossible post-Civil War now seems like an attainable reality. In a society that prides itself on holding people accountable for their mistakes, we are responsible for eliminating racism and prejudice that discriminates against all minority groups.  

An example in my life of something seemingly impossible, becoming possible, was during the 101st Turkey Bowl during my junior football season. Our opponents at Calvert Hall were seemingly the more talented players. Nobody believed in us, and when I say nobody, I mean nobody. There was not a soul outside of our locker room that was confident that our Loyola football team would win the game. My own mom hinted at her doubts about our ability to secure a victory. Honestly, that was very hurtful, but I didn't blame her. We ended up winning the game (which was an instant classic) in dramatic fashion, shocking our community. The win was a product of the hard work we put in all year, and the sacrifices we all made for our team's success. There is no victory without sacrifice.   

Chesnutt was an important figure in the African American community, using his platform to advocate for racial equality and social justice. His writings and speeches helped to inspire generations of activists and writers who continue to work toward racial equality today, making yesterday's impossibilities, today's possibilities.  

Age 14, Grade 9, Reisterstown

Seizing Your Opportunity   

If you had one moment, one opportunity, one shot, to make a lasting impact or to change your life, would you take it?  If the day you had been waiting for your entire life arrived at the doorstep of opportunity, would you practice carpe diem and snatch it from the air, or would you watch it disappear like a shooting star in the night?  In the words of the great pioneer, Madam C.J. Walker, don't wait for opportunity to knock on your door, go out and make your own opportunities.  Seizing your opportunities is the initial step in identifying the gift and potential that lies inside of you and carving out your future path. 

Since I was a young child, I have been told that I had a gift for public speaking; that my delivery and presentation was extraordinary and I should take every opportunity to hone my craft.  Although I enjoyed public speaking, I oftentimes waited for others to ask me to speak rather than stepping forward to utilize my gift.  Thus, waiting for opportunities to present themselves rather than making my own.    

I recall when I received the invitation to speak at the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast sponsored by Morgan State University as the "Catch A Rising Star" youth speaker.  Although I was only ten years old at the time and had such trepidation about this honor, I decided, even at my young age, to seize this opportunity and not allow it to pass me by.  I was nominated for this speaking honor by my church family based on my numerous speaking engagements at the church.  I realized that by volunteering to speak at my church, I was seizing the day to fulfill my gift and not waiting for it to just fall in my lap.  I was, in essence, making my own opportunity to carve out my future path. The keynote speaker was so impressed with my gift that he wanted to invest in my future and presented me with a substantial monetary award.  Had I hesitated and not taken the initiative to seize this opportunity, I would have missed this moment; I would not have created my own destiny.      

As I embark on my high school career, I will hold Madam C.J. Walker's quote close to my heart and rely on her words as I blaze my own path, creating my own trail.  I will continue to stand firmly on my faith and believe that if I ask, it shall be given; if I knock, the door shall be opened.   

So, my question to you is this:  If you had one moment, one opportunity, one shot to make a lasting impact or to change your life, would you take it?   

Age 18, Grade 12, Finksburg 

Change is inevitable yet still so feared. Without it, all of our tomorrows will be the same and a quality that is indispensable to being human will be lost. After all, humans are the most incredible change-makers and if a difference is made it was undoubtedly because of a change someone made. Icons whose names bring with them a legacy, all owe their notoriety to a change they made. Frederick Douglas went from an illiterate slave to not only a free man but also an author and prominent abolitionist; he made a change that once seemed impossible. Malcolm X became a man of faith and authority, while in prison; he made a change when it once seemed impossible. While standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a prophetic speech about the future of race in America to an audience of nearly 250,000; he made a change where it once seemed impossible. It is overwhelmingly clear then, that Charles W. Chesnutt was right: "Impossibilities are merely things of which we have not learned, or which we do not wish to happen." Personal liberty was only impossible until Fredrick Douglas learned that it did not have to be the way it was. It was only impossible for a black man to read until he made a change within himself and began his journey. Today, people are mentally imprisoned by what they view as impossible. No person is too small nor act too minuscule to be worth something in the pursuit of real change. Malcolm X, through his words and actions, set an expectation of personal ownership and honesty for not only himself but also the millions that his story has reached. His is a story of self-determinism and the benefits that come with knowing one's self and the potential stored within. He understood the value of self-investment and was able to reap the compounding output that goes along with it. As John E. Lewis began: "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?" Martin Luther King Jr. would continue: If not here then where? Congruent with his belief that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," King would argue that there is no perfect place to begin something new. Despite all of the work of pioneers and visionaries, there still isn't a perfect time, place, or way to make a change. All that has ever mattered was that it happened. If the butterfly effect can work in the past, why can it not work in the future? What small change can be made today that will alter not only the future of one person but the future of many? What is impossible today that will be done tomorrow?   

Age 16, Grade 10, Parkville

"Don't sit down and wait for opportunities to come... get up and make them! (Madam C.J. Walker)" This quote touches my heart. It is stating that if you stay seated and don't get up, whatever you want to happen, will never come. I personally relate this quote to depression. My depression felt like constant loneliness, feeling empty, numb, drained, tired all of the time, and never having any motivation, etc. Depression can begin with no explanation, or cause. However, for myself, I believe that my depression is rooted from trauma. When I was fourteen, within the same week, I was sexually assaulted, lost my grandfather, my best friend, and my sister moved away to college. As a result, I spiraled into an all-consuming depression that robbed me of my happiness.

I pushed my emotions to the side and avoided them as much as possible, because I didn't know how to cope. Sinking deeper into my bed, my negative thoughts dominated my mind. My bedroom became my safe space and I didn't want to leave, because I didn't want to go out and face my problems.

I decided that my depression wouldn't win; I decided I was going to get me back. I started with baby steps. I journaled everyday, meditated, went on walks outside, found some hobbies, reconnected with friends, and made sure that I got out and socialized with the people who lifted my spirits. I made sure that I had a routine, at night, an hour before bed I would shut my phone off and read motivational books. If you push yourself to go beyond your comfort zone and intentionally work hard, you will begin to notice a positive transformation of your life. It's okay to cry and sit around for a little, to allow yourself to feel, but don't stay there too long, get up and go on with your life. You can imagine your dream life, but how amazing would it feel if that dream you are dreaming becomes your reality!

Changing your mindset is the first step in overcoming life's challenges. I began to see my setbacks as lessons! As Madam CJ Walker reminds us, the first step in making a change for yourself is getting up and moving forward. I took her words to heart and am now the best version of myself, and have achieved things I didn't think would be possible.

I locked away the man who assaulted me, and I wrote a victim impact statement, and spoke it in court. I am now an advocate for other women who are suffering from a similar experience, and I help them have the courage to take things to court. I choregraphed dances about depression and sexual assault to spread awarness. I am happy and healthy, and you can be too, if you get up and make it happen!

Age 16, Grade 11, Baltimore 

My Leap of Faith.  

The success of a Black woman is a threat. Being an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist, all threats seen by many. Often targeted, I began to ask myself, "How have Black women persistently defeated the odds? How has the courage of Madam C.J Walker led her to become America's first African-American self-made millionaire?" Self. Made. Millionaire. Walker asserted, "Don't sit down and wait for opportunities to come. … Get up and make them". Walker's journey was to overcome the stereotype and perpetuation of fruitless Black women, incessantly disregarded, apprehensively dated centuries posterior, and fabricated into a mockery. 

Becoming America's first African American self-made millionaire was not effortless. It wasn't given as a token for an exquisite 'American Dream'. Breaking those barriers in a male-dominated industry became a struggle. Walker's drive is what led her to well-deserved success. Before Madam C.J Walker became who she is remembered as today, she was born Sarah Breedlove. Sarah was an enslaved African American, once an orphan, a teen mom, and a widow at 20. Against the odds, Sarah persevered, leading me to think "How have Black women persistently defeated the odds?" The simple answer would be the inevitable ability that Black women have, including myself, of supporting each other and recognizing lack of unity. This, Madam C.J Walker, believed wholeheartedly, but the full ride of success wasn't free. While building her business from the ground up, community was at heart. Specifically, catering to African Americans who suffered from hair loss, her products began business in 1906. Walker created a platform for African Americans to care for our hair, skin, and health. 

The perception of Black success is often ruled unattainable. The idea of a Black person succeeding in the early 1900s was game-changing. The misconception prevailed, creating a route of a superficial apprehension of an African-dominated society. Too often we see Black businesses struggling; in fact, over 41% of small Black-owned businesses say finances, debt, and health care, doubled in 2022 alone, causing a halt to Black businesses experiencing success. However, these trials have not only taught us to become stronger but to strive and reach the climax of what seems to be unattainable. I understand firsthand as a young Black woman, entrepreneur, and student, pursuing a photography business how demanding it can be. I've come to a deep understanding with myself, believing that I can do anything I set my heart to, despite all of the reasons why I could fail. I took that leap of faith. I got up and made my own opportunities. 

As I conclude, I ask my question again; How have Black women persistently defeated the odds? The answer is simple: under many folds of blood, sweat, and tears. The passion we hold in anything we do is truly indescribable. Many people will never have the patience, tenacity, and mindset that we hold. Believing and taking that leap of faith you've been contemplating will overcome stereotypes made against us. 

For this I thank Madam C.J Walker  

Age 16, Grade 11, Germantown 

George Washington Carver once said that "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." While true, the keys and doors are actually multiple, freedom a multi-level building with incremental levels separated by doors. As you acquire more education, you receive keys to unlock higher levels, gaining eligibility for opportunity. Of course, people aspire to reach different degrees of freedom. Some aspire to have the freedom to possess a lavish lifestyle, while others may aspire to escape poverty. Education is key in both scenarios. 

My father grew up in a stereotypical, primitive third world village. The area possesses immense natural beauty. All shades of green, from lime to olive, present themselves simultaneously in the form of diverse trees and shrubbery. Animals chitter and chatter boisterously. This teeming flora and fauna is the manifestation of the village being overlooked by time, left unsullied. 

This same untouched nature was behind the village's major flaw: it was primitive in all aspects. This caused issues at least thrice a year, when monstrous storms would bombard the village, bringing an onslaught of aggressive winds, heavy flooding, and torrential rain. Even worse, the effects of the storms would be amplified by the village's remoteness, which amplified the villagers' suffering.

From a young age, my father knew he had to leave this village someday. While he enjoyed the bucolic beauty, he knew that life here was a dead end. Thus, he continued to commute the 15 miles to the government school in town every day on his father's old bicycle. At home, he literally burnt the midnight oil, studying and even sleeping below oil street lamps. This hard work paid off after high school: my father received a full scholarship for physics due to his impeccable test scores. This set in motion a chain of events that culminated in the poor boy from a tiny village receiving a specialized work VISA to enter the US. Education, as always, had done it: it had not only given him the keys to escape poverty, but also to the higher level of freedom to live and work in the United States. 

The thing is, my father unlocked those levels of freedom for his family as well. My father, born in a developing country, started his life in the "basement" of freedom, just barely having the freedom to acquire an education. Due to his tireless efforts, I was fortunate enough to start off well above ground in the building of freedom, here in the United States. While I may not have access to the best educational opportunities, I plan to use what I have to the fullest, just like my father did. I already know that I aspire to reach the level of freedom to be able to give my children even more opportunities than I had so that they may go on to unlock even more levels. Just like my father did, I will utilize education to unlock more levels of freedom for me and my family  

Age 15, Grade 10, Clarksville

Education is often synonymous with school. But, it's much more than that. Education is learning more about the world around you. I believe that education can not only help us discover ourselves, but it can allow us to help others. 

Today, we live in a world of distraction. It's become nearly impossible to live a meaningful life when we have the instant gratifications of endless scrolling, seconds-long videos, and constant buzzing notifications. I believe that we've all become too consumed with digital content that we've completely lost touch with who we are. George Washington Carver once said, "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." By educating ourselves, and especially reading, we can all become more intune with ourselves. The way I see it, our addiction to modern technology has caused us to become confined to its grasp. By understanding more about the world and ourselves, we can free ourselves and live a happier life. 

Many of us around the world live in ignorance - whether we know it or not. When we don't learn about other people's struggles, we allow them to keep struggling. We allow them to keep getting hurt. Indifference produces the same outcome as actively hurting because both continue the plight of another person. By educating ourselves on other people's struggles, we can break through the door of indifference that prevents us from helping them. But, by staying uneducated, we also force the people struggling to be confined to that struggle. By educating ourselves and helping them, we can unlock the golden door of freedom for them too. Oftentimes, exposing ourselves to new cultures and information can be very uncomfortable. However, for us to be more empathetic, it is quite necessary. So, my message to you is to learn about others' problems. Read about other people's struggles. Ask them and inquire about their problems so that you can help them. Because, by not knowing, you are not helping.  

Age 15, Grade 10, Baltimore 

The Wings of Life

There are two types of people in this world, literal and philosophical ones. Each has their distinct qualities, but the combination of the two can create wonders. A quote written by George Washington Carver is, "Education is the key to unlocking the golden door of freedom." In society, school systems have put emphasis on attaining an education to be successful in life. Students are taught to get good grades, go to good colleges, and find stable jobs to support themselves. That can be seen as success from an objective standpoint, however, Carver brings up a new perspective. He describes how education isn't just about where you end up, it's the journey that it takes you along and being able to unlock new abilities as you understand the real meaning of existence. The ability to grow, from a tiny seed to a tree filled with networks, allows you the liberty to own your successes and your life. Freedom is based on your perspective of freedom and what it allows you to do in your life. A good education can help start one's journey but it's up to the will of the person to finish that journey and accomplish as much as their heart desires. The foundations of learning create an eagerness to pursue one's interests and develop the skills which will help accomplish one's goals. Now literally, your life is based on what you do with it and how you use your knowledge and skills. Life is like a bird, you can either use your wings to fly or you can wait on the top of a tree, in a warm cozy nest, while the other birds fetch supper. Each choice has its potential but ultimately, it's you who will carry out the courses of life, while education is a steppingstone to the impossible. One can imagine that education has no limits. In life, there are no impossibilities when one has the courage and resources. Learning is the same, there aren't boundaries, but adopting the right mindset can lead you to the freedom of eternity.