BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington and the Indiana University Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center commemorate National Black History Month with a celebration of the perseverance of Black people across the Diaspora.
The 2021 Black History Month celebration theme is “The Show Goes On.”
As with the rest of the month’s events, the essay contest will acknowledge and honor Black entertainers, artists, leaders, and visionaries.
Eight of the nine winners were Monroe County Community School Corporation students.
Winners are listed below along with videos from the City of Bloomington where each winner is featured reading their essay.
Video Links
High School Video
Middle School Video
Elementary School Video
Prompt Questions:
- How has the subject challenged the status quo in our society?
- How has the subject inspired or influenced your own life?
- High School Only: What have been the most important outcomes of the subject’s impact on our society?
Jackson Crenshaw
Bloomington High School North
Irene Fogleman
Jackson Creek Middle School
Eva Harriss
Jackson Creek Middle School
Annika Smith
Clear Creek Elementary School
Trinity Kessinger
The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship
2nd Place – Middle School
Heejoo An
Jackson Creek Middle School
Lauren Thies
Binford Elementary School
Avi Danthi
University Elementary School
First, second, and third-place prizes will be awarded in each of three categories: elementary (grades 4-6), middle (grades 7-8), and high school (grades 9-12). First-place essay winners will receive an iPad, second place winners receive $100, and third place winners receive $75, courtesy of the Order of the Eastern Star, Southern Star #50 Jurisdiction of Indiana, and The Prince Hall Mason’s Stone City Lodge #54.
