'We didn't come this far, to only come this far': Martin Luther King Jr. Student Essay Contest winners share visions for peace
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
In yet another year marked by loss, disease and violence, Milwaukee's youth picked up their pens to share their hope for change and peace in their city, and their ideas for the future.
This year marks the 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay contest, which began in 1981 as a way to celebrate, remember and continue King's legacy. The essay contest is sponsored by the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. (Journal Sentinel reporter Devi Shastri was the final round judge for the grade 9 and 10 competition.)
This year's theme is "Working Toward a World of Peace," and is inspired by King's 1966 essay titled "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom."
"There is no easy way to create a world where men and women can live together, where each has his own job and home and where all children receive as much education as their minds can absorb ... It will be done by rejecting racism, materialism and violence ... and especially by working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation and peace," King wrote.
Peace is like an unsolved puzzle, wrote fifth grader Mahogany Hill, of Samuel Clemens Elementary, who won first place in her grade category. We each hold the missing pieces ― of peace, love and collaboration ― that are needed to complete the image, Hill explained.
"When we assemble our pieces, we will be closer to having the peace that Dr. King wanted for us all," Hill wrote. "We didn’t come this far, to only come this far! Dr. King reminds us that completing our puzzle will not be easy, but he tells us to pick up our pieces with courage. Every piece, big and small, is needed. Our puzzle for world peace is waiting for your piece!"
This year's honorees wrote of many issues that affect their communities, including reckless driving, gun violence, racism and bullying on social media. They also presented their thoughts for what must change, and pledged to do their part to help their community.
"Throughout Milwaukee's history, peace has been nebulous. Racism and violence have increased, making overall crime skyrocket, which puts up a line of segregation: an enemy of King's dream. In Milwaukee, one cannot turn the news on without hearing about someone that was shot or killed," wrote Riverside University High School senior Darius Solomon, who took second in his grade category. "With all that is happening in the city, there is no surprise that some believe peace is a non-obtainable phenomenon."
"Despite the disorder, the light of peace is displayed by those who contribute to their community," he wrote. "Their efforts are recognized and commended by the Milwaukeean people. These are the people who have hope — people who change the lives of others for a better city — for better peace."
Read all of the first, second and third place winners' essays here.
Jump to: Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grade 6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-10 | Grades 11-12
Grades 2-3
First place: Khyei Thang, third grade, Kluge Elementary
Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of people living in a world of peace. To me, a world of peace has kindness and people respecting each other. There would be no more violence, and people would get along with everyone. In a world of peace people would speak kindly to each other and try to help each other. In a peaceful world there is teamwork, trustworthiness and acceptance.
Dr. King said, "It is always the right time to do what is right." Working toward a world of peace is the right thing to do for all of us. It starts with you and me, and it needs to start right now. What does a world of peace look like to you?
Second place: Lizmarie Soto, third grade, Kluge Elementary
I want a world peace because I want everyone to be safe. I agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that you can kill the dreamer, but you can’t kill the dream. This means you can kill a person, but you can’t kill their dream. This relates to world peace because even though Dr. King died fighting for peace and justice for everyone, people are still dreaming and fighting for world peace like me.
I believe to have peace we have to stop people from being abused. People are hurting others in many ways like being violent towards them like assaults, school invasions, shootings, and war.
To have peace, I will write a letter to the presidents of the world to help stop abuse, violence, and wars toward people. Especially to stop school invasions and school shootings. To fight for peace in my community I will put up flyers that say Stop the Violence! so people know that we have a problem. Everyone in the world should be safe.
Third place: Brielle Denson, third grade, Trowbridge School of Great Lake Studies
Martin Luther King Jr. worked very hard toward equal rights for all people and to make sure we all lived in a world of peace.
He was a great man that helped change the laws so that all colors of people were treated the same. Back in the day black people weren’t allowed to use certain water fountains, eat in certain restaurants or sit in certain spots on a bus. He made sure people heard his voice which made other people join his mission in world peace and equality.
I want to be just like Martin Luther King Jr. because I want to make the community I live in better. Sometimes in my classroom I notice kids not being so nice to each other. I jump in sometimes and talk to them about coming up with better solutions. I remind students to stop, count to ten and freshen their mind up so they don’t hurt their friends feelings.
In my neighborhood I notice a lot of crazy fast cars that cause us a lot of anxiety. I’m only allowed outside with an adult because my mom is scared of the way people drive. I would like to rally for more speed bumps or for something to be done about the fast hill by my home. My hopes are that people drive more peacefully and care about each other.
I hope someday I make a difference by spreading peace and kindness like Martin Luther King Jr.
Jump to: Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grade 6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-10 | Grades 11-12
Grades 4-5
First place: Mahogany Hill, fifth grade, Samuel Clemens Elementary
Have you ever put a puzzle together? It feels good when all of the pieces fit together and the puzzle is complete. However, when pieces are missing, we feel disappointed. This is what is happening in our world today. We have the ability to create the world that Dr. King sacrificed his life for. We have the power to make his dream a reality, but the puzzle pieces that we need to make this happen are missing!
We need your puzzle pieces marked “peace”. We need to get rid of violence of any kind. We must fight for stronger laws against reckless driving which is causing violence in our streets. We need to stop spending so much money to fight wars and make weapons which kill people. We must not allow people to use their hate filled words to cause violence against each other.
We need your puzzle pieces marked “love”. It must never be acceptable to live in a world where it is alright to hate or separate anyone because of the color of their skin. It is never alright to hate someone because they are different from us. If love is equally distributed to everyone, peace can be shared. Empathy, acceptance, being the bigger person, and respecting each other are ways that we love each other.
We need your puzzle pieces marked “collaboration”. We will live in a more peaceful world, when we start talking and brainstorming together. We can’t ignore each other because we don’t agree. We must understand why we disagree and find ways to work together for everyone’s good!
I challenge each person to find their missing puzzle pieces. When we assemble our pieces, we will be closer to having the peace that Dr. King wanted for us all. We didn’t come this far, to only come this far! Dr. King reminds us that completing our puzzle will not be easy, but he tells us to pick up our pieces with courage. Every piece, big and small, is needed. Our puzzle for world peace is waiting for your piece!
Second place: Leigha Stewart, fifth grade, Samuel Clemens Elementary
Dr. King dedicated his life to walking a road of peace and non-violence. In his speech entitled “Nonviolence: the Only Road to Freedom” he said that true and lasting world peace will happen only when we dedicate ourselves to walking this road! However, it seems that we have lost our way and have been stuck on the wrong road.
There are so many people who believe that peace is impossible. People argue, fight, and disagree. They make and use weapons which make people doubt peace. That doubt affects other people’s thoughts and actions. They become so blinded that they never can understand what peace can really be!
I choose to walk the road to peace where everyone unites in harmony. It is the road where we walk together and engage in helping each other, instead of hurting each other. It is the road where we accept each other for who we are, instead of passing judgements because we do not understand each other. It is the road filled with the sounds of our voices, not making fun of people who are different, but supporting and building each other up!
Let us walk the road of understanding, where we don’t build racist walls to separate and keep each other out. Let us choose the road where people collaborate to get rid of guns, end war, and violence so that children can play and be free, instead of hiding in bunkers or their houses because it’s too dangerous. Let us march united for equal rights for women and protest laws which tell women what to do with their bodies. Let’s join our voices with the Mahsa Aminis of the world who protest against governments who control what women can wear. Let us march for girls’ right to go to school so they don’t have to be afraid anymore.
When love, empathy, and justice overcome the world, we will have the peace that Dr. King dreamt of. Now is the time to walk united, so that the road we take, is one that we can all live with!
Third place: Isaiah Price, fifth grade, Samuel Clemens Elementary
I am going to teach you all how we can work toward a world of peace. Let's go over the learning goals. Goal number one, we will learn how to promote equality, and goal number two we will learn how to show kindness and compassion. Dr. King stated that “True peace is not merely the Absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” That means we need to work towards a world of peace and be brave and have the energy to make things happen.
Goal number one is promoting equality. How can we do that? Well, one thing I know is that we all have a voice and I know that we all can speak. I am a black intelligent male. I am tired of walking out of my house feeling that I am not worthy of being trusted in society because I am a black male. There are some black males who don’t make good decisions, but it’s not everybody making these types of choices. I am no thief or murderer. I am a black intelligent male who is working toward making a world of peace.
Goal number two is to show kindness and compassion. How much energy would it take for people to be kind to one another? A kinder person means a kinder world. I remember walking out of pick-n-save with my mom. I saw this lady and her hands were filled with groceries. I held the door for her. She was very thankful, but also surprised that I helped her. Why are people surprised when someone reaches out and helps someone? Our world has gotten so dreadful that when people help someone they are shocked. Let's all be kind and more compassionate.
Dr. King stated that “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream”. So your homework assignments starting tonight are to help people who are in need and start speaking out against inequality. If we all can do this we all will get an A plus on working towards a world of peace!
Jump to: Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grade 6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-10 | Grades 11-12
Grade 6
First place: Harper Edmonds, Milwaukee Parkside School
Our world is beautiful, and unique just like all living things that inhabit it. So many beautiful people, with big hearts, help people in need, or help people that aren’t treated right. Dr. Martin Luther King was one of those people that have big hearts, and do all that they can to help so many people. He has moved the world in so many ways. His ‘I Have A Dream’ speech has caused thousands of people with darker complexions to be treated normal, and not like they are less than anyone else.
Although, past the beauty, the way humans act toward each other, makes our world also full of hate. Though the world is that way, there is a flower of goodness in every human, and in our Earth. With every person doing even one kind act a day, our world’s flower, and the flower inside of us can bloom, and can make the world much better.
I have seen so much hate whether or not it is face to face, or online. I see kids trying to express creativity by making videos. Yet people still make fun of them, and If someone they know saw that, they could get bullied. That is not and never will be okay. Like Dr. Martin Luther King had said in his I Have A Dream speech, “ We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. “
Send love to people. Make them feel good about themselves. Even saying one kind thing about their outfit can make them feel good. If you disagree with someone, that’s okay. But you should not say mean things to them or call them names. That’s going too far.
We need to work towards a non-violent and peaceful way of living. Because in a lot of places, it is not safe to walk alone at night, but we should be able to do what we want and not have to worry. We shouldn’t have to watch what we say because if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person, bad things could happen to you.
Our flower of love, kindness, and peace can bloom. Our world has the ability to be peaceful. If you get angry, try removing yourself to prevent you hurting yourself, or someone else. Even you have the power to help it. If every person does even one kind act a day, our world’s flower, and the flower inside of us can bloom, and can make the world so much better.
Second place: Milan Hardrick, Milwaukee Parkside School
Working towards a world of peace, what does that mean? It means that little boys and girls won't be treated differently because their skin is a little darker than others. It means that society should stop treating people differently because they look different. It's ridiculous to treat people differently for something they can't control. You can't choose if you want to be black or white. You just have to accept it.
One of those ways to achieve peace and equality is to give every single person on this planet the same human rights. No matter their skin color. Even if we all don't look the same, that does not give people a single right to discriminate against others that look different than them. We are all humans so why can't we treat everyone the same? We all have to work together as one race of humans to overcome all the challenges in life. One of the first steps is to equally treat people the same way.
When I say give people the same human rights I don't mean physically fighting people to get them. It's really frustrating to see others being treated better than you all because their skin is lighter. But we can’t be punching people. We have to find a more peaceful way to handle racism. Thankfully many people have already found a more peaceful way to handle racial inequality or just human inequality in general.
For example Mahatma Gandhi. Martin Luther King Jr. Fredrick Douglas. Nelson Mandela. Rosa Parks and so many more. We need to be like these people and fight any problems we have with peace. Their ways have changed the world but not every part of the world has changed to accept everyone. Maybe you can follow in their footsteps and help change the world so that everyone can find peace.
Third place: Christian Wilder, Independent Entry
"The Richer We Have Become Materially, The Poor We Become Morally And Spiritually. We Have Learned To Fly In The Air Like Birds And Swim In The Sea Like Fish, But We Have Not Learned The Simple Art Of Living Together As Brothers". As a young black male, I'm up against an era where balloons tied to a tree and large groups gathered with candles to remember loved ones lost due to gun violence is considered normal for me especially when my mom is driving me to school or extracurricular events. Every balloon, tear and person represents a bandage, we're covering up each incident without applying any ointment to fully heal! How do we bring peace when we have become immune to the pain?
My city might have flaws but as a 6th grader I have a plan to make my city Milwaukee and the world a better place. It won't happen overnight but it will happen. Therapy is looked upon as "crazy" in my generation but if it was talked about back in the day peace wouldn't be so hard to find. Having a safe place to go or a person to speak to will eliminate bottled up anger. Anger leads to unnecessary acts that may involve violence. Therapy will help with finding peace within so when we encounter others it will be demonstrated.
"The Internet Made Me Do It" is a prime example of why social media should be decreased throughout homes around the world. Most violence is provoked through a status, message or cyberbullying. Social media should display positive stories to increase peace outside homes. I'm not saying eliminate tik toks but let's post more love and decrease the time we're online as well. If we stay online long enough, we start to believe that negative things that are being posted bring us peace but it does not.
I will continue to stay active in my community to be able to put myself in a position as an adult to help change laws that will bring peace to neighborhoods. I will maintain good grades to be accepted into schools that will help me change the world. "It is no longer a choice, my friends, between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence". I EXIST and definitely will be apart of the change the world will seek to bring peace!
Jump to: Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grade 6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-10 | Grades 11-12
Grades 7-8
First place: Syria Winston-Robertson, eighth grade, Hi-Mount Community School
We can bring this world to peace by standing for social justice, showing kindness and compassion, and by being a world citizen.
To make this world more peaceful instead of hateful, judgeful and with all this violence we have to smile at people no matter whether they are indifferent, angry, or unhappy. We must forgive people and take them as they are. We have to respect every living thing, and never support violence.
We live in turbulent times, and sometimes it feels like peace is a distant concept that will only occur when we are no longer around to experience it. But when you look at the big picture, it becomes clear that peace has been achieved in the past and can be achieved again. To work toward peace, we (alone) have more power than we would like to believe.
We All Have a Responsibility When It Comes to Creating a Better World
We always say that other people did this or that, but we are never responsible for what happens to ourselves. We must take responsibility for our own actions, and make choices that help bring about peace.
If we can change our attitudes, I think a lot of things will change. By influencing others around us, we can change the way people think about war and how they can help keep the peace. You do not have to be famous or rich to influence others, all you need is an idea and a strong desire to share it with those around you. Peace education enables people to make informed choices and determine their own path in life.
Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." He also said that peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold. We should keep these ideals in mind as we work for peace in our families, schools, and communities.
We can promote peace in our homes, by treating everyone with respect and kindness, even when they are angry or upset. We can even promote peace online or through social media by always staying positive and not talking about others.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say ‘We must not wage war.’ It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace.”
Second place: Kaleigha Weber, seventh grade, Milwaukee School of Languages
I think we could be working harder for peace.Because we have not reached peace, have we? People are working hard for it, but no one else really cares.Peace is in some places, yes, but not everywhere. But peace is not something that stays. Peace is a feeling, which comes and goes. Peace can go to anger, and frustration in seconds.But, I think that peace will come to us one day.Peace is not inevitable, but it will come. When I think of peace, I think of a pretty forest.In that forest, the only noise is the birds chirping.For others, peace is not hearing gunshots every hour.For others, peace is not hearing parents arguing.For others, peace is no bombs falling on your city.Peace is different for many people. But it all happens to everyone differently. It comes and goes, and for some people, it stays. For others, it’s on and off. One day it’s here, the next it’s not.And sometimes… it never comes.But I think if we keep working towards it, keep spreading peace,For those people who never have it, they will. But sometimes peace is scary.Sometimes, you’ll hear loud noises, scary noises.But then, it all gets quiet. It's peaceful. No noise.Yet for some reason, it makes you more scared.Either that, or you don't even feel better. Some people pass away with peace. Others... do not. I hope we do reach peace in life. Towards a world where everyone can be with peace.But maybe we’ll never get there.Maybe we’ll be stuck in the endless loop where no one can have peace.Maybe, it’ll get worse, maybe there will be no peace, ever.But, if we do work our hardest for it, I believe we will get that peace.The peace that everyone is happy with, and can live with.That is what working towards a world of peace means to me.
Third place: Lilyana Sanders, eighth grade, Manitoba School
Dr. King once said “The time is always right to do what is right.” We all want peace. But some of us won't act to do so. I will not be one of those people. I will work towards a world of peace by Picking up trash in my neighborhood, helping my mom with things she needs, and trying my best to focus in school.
In my community I will help pick up trash. What I would do to help is by walking around my neighborhood to see if there is trash. And if there is I would pick it up and throw it in the trash or in the recycling if it needs to be recycled. This would affect me, my community and the earth. I would get more exercise, the neighborhood would be cleaner and the earth would be a little less polluted. Hopefully by doing this I will lead by example and other people will do it.
In my Home I will help my mom with things she needs. For example if she needs me to help her clean my grandpa's house I will do it no matter how much I don't want to do it. This would affect my mom for the most part. By doing this I could reduce her stress just a bit.
In my school I would try my best to focus in school. I would try to do little tips and tricks and not focus on other things like movies I have already watched. This would affect me and my parents. By doing this I would have better grades, be able to go have a good job and my parents would not have to be worried about me too much.
By doing these acts I hope that I can lead a better future and once I am an adult I can do more. I can do more for myself and others. Sometimes people need a little help and I want to be the one who helps them. Just like Dr. King said “We have before us the glorious opportunity to inject a new dimension of love into the veins of our civilization.”
Jump to: Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grade 6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-10 | Grades 11-12
Grades 9-10
First place: Taliyah Grant, ninth grade, Riverside University High School
In order for Milwaukee and the world to be a more peaceful place, we need to use our resources and motivate and encourage the children. In the same way that I look up to leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I have little cousins who look up to me, and I want to build a future for them where they are safe. One issue I see as impacting the safety and peace of the youth is the massive amount of abandoned, run-down spaces, not only around Milwaukee, but in communities of color around the US. I think we can use these abandoned buildings like houses, empty parks, and open fields, and put them to use by making them into beneficial places. Make them into group homes, shelters, foster homes, & community centers. For example, a lot of kids in Milwaukee steal cars. And I feel like if they actually find something similar to stealing cars like robotics, that would be the start of change. If adults gave young people more activities they enjoy, instead of the same couple of things. They would be involved more.
In addition to needing safe spaces, kids need role models. When kids don’t have people at home that keep them motivated or encourage them to do good, they’re not going to do good. This is because if they're not getting told right from wrong or that they shouldn’t be doing something, they're going to continue to do it. They’re not going to care that what they are doing is not right, if the adult is not doing the same. To add on, parents are not always to blame. Some kids act up so much that the adult is tired and just gives up because they don't listen. I know a handful of parents who actually did care once but the children continued to act up, so they stopped trying. By providing things and activities they enjoy doing and role models to support them, it can keep young people from doing the bad things.
Dr. King said that a peaceful world is one, “where all children receive as much education as their minds can absorb.” This is important to me because I also believe all kids should get an education but, there's so much going on in the world it's making kids not care about their education as much. Some schools that are free or that are in the neighborhood aren't always the best school for the child. Especially, when they already live in a bad neighborhood or community. In my opinion, the community & environment can affect the way a child learns. Nine times outta, most of the time positive learning environments will make the child feel more comfortable, engaged & motivated. You can’t just expect change, you have to be the change.
Second place: Auggie Hoffman, tenth grade, Riverside University High School
Peace sometimes seems unattainable in this violent world, but as Vincent Van Gogh said, “There is even peace in the storm.” What does peace mean to me? Peace means that there are no hate crimes and/or discriminatory violence. Laws being made against LGBTQ individuals and discrimination against black people both in law and socially causes unrest among the people. Gun violence and police brutality towards protesters is a result of prejudice. Innocent black people would not be killed by white police if they weren’t racist. The government wouldn’t try to silence protesters if they weren’t trying to keep discriminatory laws and policies in place. So in conclusion, hate crimes and discriminatory violence keeps us from being peaceful, if we all just accept one another and get over our prejudices, our country and the world will be a safer place.
Do I live in a peaceful city? No, I don’t believe I do. With gun violence, gangs like the Kia boys, theft, and large amounts of poverty. Even in school we are not safe, with there being a shooting near our school last year and a kid showing off a gun on campus earlier this school year. Car theft is a huge issue and reckless driving causes many car accidents, sometimes causing deaths. Many people are poor and it's almost impossible for minorities to get out of that situation. Living in dangerous areas and people living on the streets because of our stingy economy. Last year an adult came up to me and my friends begging for money for food, and there are people begging children for drug money. Milwaukee is not a peaceful place with segregation, violence, and discrimination plagueing our city.
What needs to change to make Milwaukee a more peaceful city? Milwaukee needs stricter gun laws, traffic re-enforcement, more funding for public schools, and unification. Gun violence will go way down if who can own a gun is strictly regulated, with assault rifles completely banned, we don’t need weapons that are only used to hurt each other. If there is more traffic reinforcement, unsafe drivers will be taken off the roads, reducing car accidents. This will also help stop car theft and hopefully the kia boys. If school is reconstructed to the needs of the kids instead of to produce factory workers. If we put more money into the system we can pay teachers liveable wages and make a positive environment for children to learn. If people want to be in school and are exposed to different kinds of people and are educated, they will be less likely to engage in violence and discrimination. If the city becomes less segregated, then different ethnic backgrounds and races will learn to accept and love one another. This will lead to less hate crimes and discriminatory violence from police and citizens. These things will help Milwaukee become a more peaceful and beautiful city. When people accept one another, and don’t hurt each other, this city will be a much better place.
Third place: Donavan Coleman, tenth grade, Riverside University High School
What is peace to you? Peace to me is when you can sit down on a towel on the beach drinking pink lemonade looking at the sea hearing the waves crash with each other. We can create peace by stopping car thefts and larceny in Milwaukee. We also can help create peace by giving them motivation to do something instead of fit in (do trends).
Have you ever seen any problems in your community? One of the serious problems I see in our community are the “Kia Boys.” “Kia Boys” are one of the most known problems in Milwaukee. The “Kia Boys'' are known for taking your car or taking parts from your car and even selling them. When the “Kia Boys” take your car they increase the deaths that can be devastating to family members. That behavior can be stopped if we put children that have an inspiration with cars so that they can become engineers, NASCAR drivers, and maybe mechanics. We can also influence the other kids to play sports like basketball, football, soccer, or golf. Sports would keep them out of trouble, and the GPA needed would allow them to have acceptable grades so they can do something productive. We also can take that behavior away by taking away social media. Social media can create a lot of habits like procrastinating and trying to fit in “joining the trend.” This is another way we can stop car thefts and larceny in Milwaukee.
Has there ever been a time where you’ve seen violence around your area? Maybe you’ve seen people arguing. Maybe you’ve seen violence on television. I have a way to hypothetically stop violence. I would take them to better environments, give them better teachers and better schools. Almost like giving them a reason to go to school. We could also give the students some type of competition like games so that students are getting the education they need but aren’t making bad choices. Like Martin Luther King Jr. said, “where all children receive as much education their minds can absorb.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “There is no easy way to create a world where men and women can live together, where each has his own job and home and where all children receive as much education as their minds can absorb….It will be done by rejecting racism, materialism and violence …and especially by working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation and peace.”
Milwaukee can learn a lot from Martin Luther King's words by creating neighborhoods with parks, so that people have a safer environment. Milwaukee can create more gyms to give people things to do. Also parents in Milwaukee should care more or have better security protocols like cameras so they know where their children are. Or parents can utilize “life 360” to access their children's locations so then they have no reason to be playing around (or being irresponsible). This is what Milwaukee should do to help Milwaukee become safer.
Jump to: Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grade 6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-10 | Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12
First place: Tatiyana Dockery, eleventh grade, Riverside University High School
Every morning when I wake up, I am reminded of how certain people don't think positively about Black people and how this impacts me personally as a person of color. P.E.A.C.E.: Why can't we just have a world like this, where everyone can coexist peacefully? In his essay "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom," Martin Luther King addresses this issue by outlining how we must cooperate to achieve peace and freedom. Martin Luther King once said that “We must come to see that at the end we seek a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience,” meaning that we need to be concerned about the problems or injustices of society or simply just care about those who are less fortunate by being them peace.
My peace is a world in which people appreciate me for who I am as a person, regardless of race. I am a person of color, though, and I do not fit into any of the categories mentioned; instead, I am a quiet young woman who sincerely values education and aspires to attend college to become a doctor. I'm a Black young lady who enjoys staying in binge-watching K dramas while covered in blankets. I'm a Black woman who despises violence and strives to live a peaceful life. I am a young Black woman, and I have never hit anyone but my siblings. My serenity comes from not being terrified or uncomfortable about going into a predominantly white store without someone suspecting me of stealing something. My peace is a world in which we may all come together and be equal without regard for skin color.
I've never hated someone in my life, let alone a different race that I'd never met. However, when it comes to Black people, some claim to despise us. Why is that? Why do some people harbor such intense hatred for others they have never attempted to understand instead basing their opinions only on what others have said? I am aware that some people of color exhibit all the characteristics I listed in the paragraph above, but that does not justify comparing one black person to another. Without worrying about skin tone, everyone should get to know one another.
Racism is one wrongdoing in society, and it will still exist in 2022. Given that slavery was abolished over 155 years ago, why do people of color still have to endure hearing racist slurs and experiencing prejudice based on our skin tone and outer appearances? The civil rights movement for which Martin Luther King Jr. fought so tenaciously is gradually crumbling. Instead of going back to the past, we ought to be moving forward and uniting as one. I used to wonder how racism was in the past, but right now I am literally witnessing how the past keeps resurfacing. Will there ever be a civilization where we can overcome racism? We are only able to put the broken pieces of the world back together with P.E.A.C.E. All we require for cooperation and unity is P.E.A.C.E. Therefore, if everyone could just find peace in the world, perhaps we could all come together.
Second place: Darius Solomon, twelfth grade, Riverside University High School
Peace is a never-ending battle for the soul of the world, a fight fought by all of us, whether we know it or not. To me, peace is the harmonization of everyone and everything, a state of self-consciousness in which uncontrollable factors, like our skin tone, gender, and ethnicity, are not judged, ridiculed, and questioned. It is the path to a future of tranquility– a path to a better world of potential prosperity and righteousness– the walk we as individuals need to endure if we ever want to achieve world peace.
Dr. King challenged us to reject “racism, materialism, and violence” as they are obstacles to this peace. Some of us attempt to avoid such matters, but others are devoid of the same vision, especially in Milwaukee. Throughout Milwaukee's history, peace has been nebulous. Racism and violence have increased, making overall crime skyrocket, which puts up a line of segregation: an enemy of King's dream. In Milwaukee, one cannot turn the news on without hearing about someone that was shot or killed. With all that is happening in the city, there is no surprise that some believe peace is a non-obtainable phenomenon. Despite the disorder, the light of peace is displayed by those who contribute to their community. Their efforts are recognized and commended by the Milwaukeean people. These are the people who have hope– people who change the lives of others for a better city– for better peace.
Milwaukee needs a series of changes to achieve true peace; that change begins with its citizens. For instance, our view of objects of our desires needs to stop being our focus and driving force — the "materialism" Dr. King wanted us to reject because it enables us to segregate our needs from our wants — an ailment of peace. Materialism is often mistakenly associated with people and communities of color. However, when you peel back the layers of that stereotype, you can attribute it to the fact that the white population has the highest distribution of our country's wealth. These privileges leave those who aren't economically privileged white folks to feel there is no avenue to social wealth or material gain. Therefore, here in Milwaukee, stealing seems to be the only method of getting what they want. These stereotypes are why those with racist, sexist, and homophobic views should evaluate why they have those views. It allows another line of segregation to occur, which authorizes countless battles or protests to fight, and once again disrupts the mending peace of the city.
Those views do not contribute to peace, especially the ongoing issue of racism. Racism does not provide any comfort to someone of color. Day-to-day, we experience microaggressions, stereotypes, or blatant racism, which is unwanted in a world of peace. It does no good for us and gives us fewer opportunities than someone white. If everyone in the city and country is willing to cooperate more, we can diminish such views over time, as many of us have already been doing in the current era. In these efforts, we will achieve a peace that will be desirable to everyone, no matter their color, sexuality, or sex. Ultimately, this is the goal Dr. King had strived for; as King had expressed, "it will be done… by minorities and white people of goodwill."
Third place: Jennifer Adongo, twelfth grade, Bay View High School
"World peace," alternatively referred to as "peace on Earth," is the idealized position of unity, equality, and tranquility between and among all individuals and nations on the entire planet. The definitive objective of world peace would be to remove discrimination to a considerable extent. Although actions have been taken to reduce bias, it will require a significant shift in society today to capture the full scope of Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision.
Making as many volunteers as possible is my current vision in order to bring about world peace. Volunteering in the community aids in resolving various issues that aren't addressed by governmental and cultural institutions. Since teens are the time of day and they would receive the mark from day, talking about volunteering with teens should be the start of a better life. In various nations around the world, schools have made it a requirement for students to graduate from the 12th grade that they complete a certain number of hours of community service. Volunteerism may have long-lasting effects on not just the people who get assistance, but it will also enhance individual volunteering. Volunteering is the only way certain groups can accomplish their goals. Volunteers are significantly more likely to retain their lives by giving time to improve because they are helping those who will not better themselves. Regardless of how significant the effort is, volunteering has an impact on some people's lives.
Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of using nonviolent protest to bring about world peace; mine is not exactly the same as his, though it is nonviolent. Nonviolence can be practiced individually as a way of life or collectively as a means of resolving conflict and creating a peaceful society. Practitioners of non-violence employ a variety of effective techniques in their quest for cultural transformation. They have tried to bring about cultural change through messages to administrations, nonviolent resistance, nonviolent protest, and communication through the media. "Nonviolence offers the only way to freedom for my people," says Martin Luther King in "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom."
In order to redistribute power in society, nonviolent campaigns also include a wide range of creative protest tactics as well as extensive non-cooperation and nonviolent interventions. With this desire or even with these words, Dr. King did not waver. He went out of his way to find a solution. He was actively involved in the fight for racial equality before he celebrated. In "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom," Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, "This is a time for action." "What is needed is a strategy for change." After giving his talk, he wrote books, spoke with religious and political figures, and continued to strive for justice. Martin Luther King writes in "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom," "The road to freedom is a difficult, hard road; it always makes for temporary setbacks." The desire does not alter the efforts. Continue to be magnanimous by taking action to finish this last account on a certain topic. It can entail creating prayer groups, reaching out to individuals in this manner, or locating an organization already engaged in the endeavor you have chosen to undertake.
Jump to: Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grade 6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-10 | Grades 11-12
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee students write paths to peace in 2022 MLK Essay Contest
