On July 23, 2024, local high school students were honored for their submissions to the 2024 Racial Justice Essay Contest. The ceremony was led by Dr. James Thomas, a professor at Georgia Southern University. Dr. Tilicia Mayo-Gamble and Vickie Lewis greeted all the guests in attendance. Dr. Alvin Jackson, President of the Willow Hill Board, then welcomed everyone to the Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center.
The essay contest was a collaboration between the Statesboro-Bulloch Remembrance Coalition and the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Community Remembrance Team, encouraging students to explore the historical roots of racial injustice and its modern-day similarities. Participants had the option to work with mentors from the Coalition, and several took advantage of this opportunity. The essay prompt was:
Analyze a topic related to racial injustice in America and at least one historical event that shows this topic in action. How does this history help to explain a present-day injustice? How can this history be overcome in order to change current realities and address the challenges our nation currently faces?
Dr. Stacy Smallwood, a Coalition member who mentored one of the students, expressed the importance of the contest.
“Young people are making intentional and analytical connections between historical and contemporary racial injustices," he said. "Celebrating their critical evaluations underscores the need for an accurate account of history, especially in times when it’s under attack.”
Dr. Mayo-Gamble and Dr. Michelle Reidel, professors at Georgia Southern University, had worked with local teacher Vickie Lewis and the EJI team to inform students about the contest. The prompt challenged students to analyze a topic related to racial injustice, connect it to a historical event, and discuss how understanding this history could address present-day injustices.
Dr. Smallwood's student had chosen to explore medical mistrust among Black communities, linking it to the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where infected Black male participants were not treated for nor informed about their condition. Another mentor, Dr. Lisa Costello, guided her student through research on the legal system's injustices, tracing the legacy of Black codes and Jim Crow laws to contemporary issues.
Eleven students expressed interest in the contest, and seven submitted essays. Most participants were juniors and seniors, with one freshman and one sophomore also joining. Four students received monetary prizes, and all were acknowledged at the ceremony.
Jennifer Harris of the EJI presented the awards to the following students:
- Janaria Wembly
- Paylin King
- Bailey Fergus
- Ava Mincey (for her essay on voter suppression)
- 2nd Place: Layla Scarboro (for her essay on the school-to-prison pipeline)
- 1st Place: Alyssa Staten (for her essay on the Tuskegee men who were tested on and not treated, and how these issues persist in healthcare today)
Alyssa Staten's mother, Lashonda Staten, gave a speech on her daughter’s behalf, as Alyssa is currently attending Northeastern University in Boston.
Dr. Mayo-Gamble highlighted the challenges in disseminating information about the contest but emphasized the community's support for scholarship opportunities.
“Injustice is a sensitive topic, but young people should have the space to voice their concerns," she said. "This contest allowed Bulloch County students to define how past injustices affect their lives today.”
She also stressed the importance of understanding history to address current issues. “Injustice has been a persistent issue across generations. Providing an outlet for young people to voice their concerns is crucial for resolving today's injustices.”
Coalition Co-Chair Adrianne McCollar and Chris Caplinger gave closing remarks.
