We love seeing young people in our community connect with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s powerful message, and this year's essay and poetry contest delivered. The Community Equity Commission held its second annual MLK Jr. Essay/Poetry Contest, inviting students in grades 5-12 (whether they live in Savage, attend school here, or homeschool) to select one of Dr. King's quotes and explore its meaning in their own lives. The results were thoughtful, moving, and really well done. A huge thank you to the Savage Rotary and Rotary of Prior Lake for helping with this initiative.
Here are this year's winners:
1st Place Grades 5 – 8: "Only in the darkness can you see the stars" By Saharsha Sanish
Our world is consumed by gloom and darkness, The path
is just a void of darkness and sorrows that fill you. Every step feels lost and stray.
Your heavy heart remembers the light,
The good, happy things in life.
And trust me, it's known the storm,
It knows how it feels to lose hope and not find its way
But at the end of the day, you look up,
Gaze at the stars in the sky.
They represent the good things are there too
They are there for you, even in your darkest times.
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars,”
A powerful, true voice reminds you, healing your sorrowful mind
For when the sun surrenders, bringing out the stray,
You remember, “I can keep this at bay.”
During the dreadful times, we mustn't forget,
We will always have the stars in the sky for us
Waiting to gleam for us to see,
Waiting to bring us joy,
Waiting for the darkness to arrive.
You don't need day to shine; you are the light, You are
the spark you need through the absolute of night. They
gleam only for those who dare to look above, Who find
their strength in faith, and hope, and love. So let the
darkness hold you, just a while,
To see the starlight up above
You are strong, you've made it through
Now, just let it shine too.
2nd Place Grades 5 - 8 Grade: Mary Conley
An immaculate country reflecting heaven’s land enchanting
A fantasy we dare to dream since the emergence of the country was found
Not an instant did our hearts stay pristine as the diamonds below us
Nor did they aspire to reside on a star from Libra’s sign above
But chose to dwell in the burial ground of vanity
While gravestones were etched on crimson ground.
Through the pouring rain, blood washes away
But for not longer than a day
Cold, unfeeling feet plod over the lilies and carnations, smothering
The unbothered and vulnerable petals
They cling to the worn boots of the exhausted, beaten, and unvalued souls that
cannot survive another moment of torment
Till no flowers are left to be seen.
Through unwavering effort, justice crept in slowly
Yet no one was close to satisfied
“O hatred, how your flames bring warmth to my sad spirit!
You burn my enemy, as my tears could not. May I see the tyrants wither and turn to
ash.”
Sorrow is overwhelmingly painful, and unity in disdain is a bond so powerful; it
corrupts the mind till no sympathy is left in essence of life
And within the time a flash of lighting strikes the night sky, the multitudes create a
blood curdling revenge for the trespasses that scarred them so deeply
And the trespassers only fought back with the arrogance to never admit they were wrong
The battle to find delight in the belittlement of their enemies never ends
As false rays of sunshine seem to light the world around them
But, nothing admirable ever sprang from the unstoppable slashing of swords and
fiery words whose only meaning was vengeance and pride
they light they thought they produced was venomous as rattlesnake
For so many crusades to lift the oppressed, this is a summary we know too well
But Dr. Martin Luther King shared a piece of wisdom that we should all carry forth
“In your struggles for justice, let your oppressor know that you are not attempting to
defeat or humiliate him….Let him know that you are merely seeking justice for him
as well as yourself.”
When we stand up for a cause, we must remember what we are fighting for
Justice is equity for everyone, even those against us
For what is fairness unless it is for all?
To advocate for love while maltreating those who don’t think similarly is conceited
and valueless
There is nothing as isolated as the unwilling mind
If loathing forces its way on to the throne
Then gravestones mark the death of compassion
Common people and leaders must make forgiveness and humility their precedents
And only hatred will decrease
1st Place Grades 9-12: Letter from Birmingham Jail Reflection by Anne Marie Cline
The "Letter from Birmingham Jail," written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963, has had a huge impact on American society, especially when it comes to civil rights, justice, and activism. Dr. King wrote the letter while he was in jail for protesting segregation and racial injustice in Birmingham, Alabama. He was responding to a group of white clergymen who criticized his actions, saying that his protests were too extreme and untimely. Dr. King explained that waiting for the "right time" to demand equality was not an option because African Americans had been suffering for far too long. He made it clear that direct action and nonviolent resistance were necessary to create change. His powerful message continues to shape how Americans think about justice and equality today.
In the letter, Dr. King argued that the fight for civil rights could not be postponed. He said that African Americans had already been denied basic rights for so long that immediate action was needed. This idea of urgency inspired people to take action and pushed forward future movements for racial equality. His call for direct action made it clear that protests could be a powerful way to bring attention to issues that were being ignored. Dr. King showed that nonviolent protests, like sit-ins and marches, could be a strong tool for social change. This has shaped how people view activism today and has helped people see that peaceful protests can be just as effective as other methods of making a change.
The "Letter from Birmingham Jail" also had a long-lasting effect on how Americans confront issues of racial inequality. Dr. King’s letter teaches us that justice often isn’t achieved quickly or easily. Sometimes, it takes challenging unfair systems and standing up against the status quo. His message about standing up for what’s right has inspired many leaders and regular citizens to keep fighting for a fairer society. Today, his letter continues to be a source of inspiration for anyone working toward equality.
