2019 City Of Bloomington Black History Month Essay Winners Announced

(BLOOMINGTON) – The City of Bloomington Black History Month Planning Committee has announced the winners of their 2019 Black History Month Essay Contest.


The 2019 Black History Month theme is “Reclaiming Our Time.” “Reclaiming Our Time” is about inspiring the community to reflect on the ways historic wrongs are being corrected and the spaces the Black community has created to celebrate culture, history, and community.
The subjects for the Essay Contest were:

  • I PROMISE School, LeBron James
  • Kimberle Crenshaw, advocate and scholar
  • 1968 Olympics, Black Power protest
  • The Hate U Give, book and/or film
  • James Baldwin, novelist and poet
  • Ryan Coogler, Director of Black Panther
  • Maxine Waters, Congresswoman
  • Eunique Jones Gibson, “Because of Them, We Can” campaign
  • Michelle D. Alexander, “The New Jim Crow”
  • Missy Elliott, singer/songwriter
  • Serena Williams, professional tennis player
  • Ayanna Pressley, House of Representatives-elect
  • Stacey Abrams, politician
  • James McCune Smith, first Black doctor

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADES 4-6

  • First Place: Aniya Boone — Lighthouse Christian Academy
  • Second Place: Alistair Njau – University Elementary – Essay
  • Third Place: Harper Eakin – Childs Elementary – Essay

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • First Place: Grace Choi – Jackson Creek Middle School – Essay
  • Second Place: Charlotte Siena – Jackson Creek Middle School – Essay
  • Third Place: Rebekah Mou – Jackson Creek Middle School – Essay

HIGH SCHOOL

  • First Place: Molly Bui – Bloomington High School South – Essay
  • Second Place: Avery Njau – Bloomington High School North – Essay
  • Third Place: Andrea Pinto – Bloomington High School South – Essay

First place essay winners will receive an iPad, second place winners will receive a $100 cash award, and third place winners will receive a $75 cash award.
Essay Contest Reception will be held on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Fairview Elementary School.

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