God Squad: Letter from Birmingham Jail
In celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday we begin 2021 with an important conversation about one of the most iconic and impactful writings in American history.
In celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday we’ll begin 2021 with an important conversation about one of the most iconic and impactful writings in American history. As we approach the anniversary of George Floyd’s death and consider the tectonic shifts in America since the tragedy, we’ll ask you to re-read Dr. King’s letter and we’ll talk about its prophetic wisdom and its application to our realities of race in America today. In partnership with FAMU Cooperative Extension Program, Save One Life Foundation, Black History Month Festival, 100 Black Men of Tallahassee and Legacy Taste of the Garden we will have an extraordinary opportunity to hear from young black students in their own words about their view of the legacy of King’s letter and message in today’s world.
Facilitated by Betsy Ouellette Zierden.
Programming during the pandemic is made possible by a recovery grant from the Knight Foundation, through the Community Foundation of North Florida and a CARES grant from Florida Humanities with the support of National Endowment for the Humanities. We are deeply grateful for their support.
READ AND VIEW STUDENT SUBMISSIONS
Student submissions contemplating the meaning of Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail today.
VOTING IS NOW CLOSED! Thank you for participating. We are pleased to announce the prize winners of the essay and video contest:
1st place: Kaliah Stevenson and Caleb Johnson for their video entry “Women are King.”
2nd place: Jonathan Jackson, Elise Ray, and Dazzle Watson for their video entry “Chicago Young Authors Escaping The Odds.”
3rd place: TaDarius Jai Smith for his essay titled “My Interpretation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
Congratulations and thank you to all applicants!
Video submission by Kaliah Stevenson (Havana Magnet Preparatory) and Caleb Johnson (Cobb Middle School) “Women are King” by can be viewed here. (Sponsored by Black History Month Festival | Black History Alliance)
Video submission by IYC Warrenville “The Voice of Incarcerated Youth” Voice 1: Malcolm, studying to become an Electrician at Rock Valley College, Voice 2: Malika, studying Psychology at College of DuPage, Voice 3: Diego, studying Business at College of DuPage. Video can be viewed here. (Sponsored by Save One Life Foundation 2021 PREP Scholars).
Audio and essay submission by TaDarius Jai Smith “My Interpretation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” The full essay can be read here. The audio can be listened to here. (Sponsored by 100 Black Men of Tallahassee)
Essay submission by Lucius Holloway II “Dr. Martin Luther King” can be read here. (Sponsored by 100 Black Men of Tallahassee)
Video submission “Chicago Young Authors Escaping The Odds” by Jonathan Jackson (Escaping the Odds: Chicago Young Author), Elise Ray (Junior at Malcolm X College), Dazzle Watson (Chicago Military Academy Bronzeville)(Sponsored by: Save One Life Foundation shares “The Voice of Youth in the Community”). The video can be viewed here.
Video entry by Antwaun Harris “The Voice of REENTRY Youth”, 2018 Save One Life PREP Scholar and 2020 Graduate from Lake Land College (Associates Degree in Business Management) and Save One Life Foundation Youth Honorary Board Member. View the video here.
Essay submission by Samuel Lawson “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail” can be read here. (Sponsored by 100 Black Men of Tallahassee)
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