Four Elon University students explained the need for addressing issues of racism during an oratorical contest Wednesday, Jan. 20.
In correspondence with the week’s activities centered on Martin Luther King Jr., the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (CREDE) encouraged students to deliver speeches between five and seven minutes long for a chance to win the $250 first place prize.
Freshman Kenneth Brown Jr. was the first contestant to speak during the oratorical contest. He discussed the need to accept the existence of racism, as highlighted by the Trayvon Martin incident. He explained his own insecurity as an African-American male when he watches police cars drive by and emphasized the need for the national community to remember the past injustices and how much progress has yet to be made.
“We have to admit to ourselves that not all of us have a box to see over the fence,” Brown said.
The next speaker, senior Citlaly Mora, said she was dissatisfied with the lack of progress made for minorities in the U.S. She said passivity is the downfall to resolving issues of discrimination and racial violence.
“Just because you do not participate in racist acts, does not mean you are not racist,” Mora said.
Senior Danielle Williams referenced events like Eric Garner’s death to capture the simplistic message that racial attacks need to be remembered and addressed.
After admitting to writing his speech the night before, senior Doug Spencer delivered a powerful story of his cousin Tony moving into his house and reading at kindergarten level at the age of eight. Spencer said this showed him not to expect society to hand him opportunities as an African-American.
“We are forced to live in a nation that was intended without our [minority] rights in mind,” Spencer said.
He suggested a feasible way to fix this issue is for the United States to unite and view issues in the perspective of “we the people” instead of “I the individual”.
While the judges deliberated, Assistant Director for CREDE Jamie Butler encouraged audience members in attendance to take three steps to address racism: (1) Evaluate personal bias and its source; (2) Take a risk and be an ally to the victims of racial injustice; (3) Keep the conversation going about discrimination.
At the conclusion of the contest, Williams placed third and won $100. Brown came in second, earning a $175 prize. Spencer was awarded $250 for delivering the best speech.
Butler hopes the event will become a tradition for the Elon community to participate in every year to encourage students to vocalize their ideas for promoting a more equal society.