Submissions open for Equal Justice Initiative essay contest

James Swift, The Daily Citizen, Dalton, Ga.
·2 min read

Sep. 21—The Whitfield County Community Remembrance Project is partnering with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) for a new student essay contest.

"A group of us started meeting about two years ago and we've been on the waiting list to do this project for about two years now," said project representative Valerie Silva. "Because there are so many counties that want to participate and want to do this project."

Submissions for the 2023 Racial Justice Essay contest opened on Monday and will be accepted through Dec. 1.

"Prize awards totaling up to $5,000 may be awarded for winning essays of 800 to 1,000 words," a Monday press release statement reads.

All public school students in Whitfield County and Dalton schools in grades 9-12 are eligible for entries.

The essay prompt asks students to analyze a topic related to racial injustice in America, with an emphasis on at least one historical event embodying the issue.

"How does this history help to explain a present-day injustice?" the prompt continues. "How can this history be overcome in order to change current realities and address the challenges our nation currently faces?"

Silva said the Whitfield County Community Remembrance Project commemorates five victims of racial terror lynching within the county between 1888 and 1935.

"Ultimately, we would like for the EJI to sponsor our historical marker," she continued. "But that will be down the street, a year or so from now."

Two workshop sessions are offered for students interested in the contest at the Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library at 310 Cappes St. The first session is slated for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, and the second is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Students will have another opportunity for assistance with contest submissions at the Mack Gaston Community Center, at 218 N. Fredrick St., on Monday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 p.m.

A special workshop is also planned for the Emery Center, at 110 W. Emery St., at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5.

"We brainstormed a list of local history topics that would be good essay topics," Silva said. "We asked several people who have written about local history and who are well versed in these topics to come and participate in a panel discussion — we're just going to have them up on the stage and we're going to throw out these topics and let them talk about it."

Silva described the significance of the essay contest — and why it's so important for youth to understand and acknowledge the past.

"We live in a world that is shaped by the actions of our ancestors," she said, "and now we're having to pick up the pieces of things that happened decades and centuries ago."

More information on contest guidelines is online at https://sites.google.com/eji.org/whitfield-co-ga-essay-contest.