4th Annual Black History Month Essay & Speech Contest

Application Deadline: 5:00 pm, Wednesday, February 11, 2009. Download application form.

Essays should reflect the following theme:
“Sankofa: Where do we go from here?”

Essays must reflect one of the following topics:

  • Peaceful Protest and Social Activism
  • Hip Hop and Politics
  • Diversity and Affirmative Action: Where Do We Go From Here?
  • Is Facebook a Substitute Tactic for Activism?
  • Leadership and Advocacy: Who Should Represent Us?
  • YouTube and the First Amendment
  • Multicultural Perspective and Identity Formation
  • Your Generation and Civil Rights: Is It Over?
  • A Campus Student Organization and Social Consciousness
  • Impact of Global Civil Rights and Black Consciousness

Application Deadline
The application form (download in pdf format) and your essay submission are due by 5:00 pm, Wednesday, February 11, 2009, in the Department of Africana Studies, S-249 SBS Building, or the EOP/AIM Office, Room W-3520 Melville Library.

Finalists
The finalists will present their essay speeches to a panel of judges on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, from 12:40 pm to 2:00 pm, in the UNITI Cultural Center, SB Union. This program is open to the Stony Brook Community. 

Awards
Awards will be presented to the first-, second-, and third-place winners at the Black History Month Closing Ceremony, on Thursday, February 26, 2009, 8:00 pm, in Student Activities Center Ballroom A. Admission is open to everyone, free of charge.

Submission Requirements
Only Stony Brook undergraduates are eligible to participate. Essays must be typed, double-spaced, and no more than three to five pages. Speeches must be five to seven minutes in length. All submissions must be accompanied by a completed application form (on reverse side); forms are also available in the Department of Africana Studies, EOP/AIM Office, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Suite 222 Student Activities Center.

The following criteria will be used to judge the essays and speeches:

  • Content: Does the content and overall message of the speech reflect the designated topic for the
    Black History Month Essay contest?
  • Creativity: Does the writer put forth fresh new ideas in his/her speech? Is the speech innovative? Does the speech convey new ideas?
  • Stage Presence: Does the presenter look at the audience or is she/he merely reading the speech? Does the presenter effectively convey emotion?
  • Clarity: Does the presenter speak clearly?

Prizes

  • First Place: Cash Bookstore Certificate
  • Second Place: Dinner for two at the Cheesecake Factory
  • Third Place: Gift basket of "Things I Like"