Just ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the law firm of Foley & Lardner, LLP sponsored its 30th annual oratory competition commemorating the life and legacy of MLK Jr.
At the event held on January 14 in Dallas, local fourth and fifth graders honored Martin Luther King Jr. with inspirational messages addressing this year’s theme: “How would Dr. King assess our progress in achieving his vision for America?”
The competition required each student to research and write a speech about where America stands as a country in respect to Dr. King’s dream. Students from eight Dallas ISD schools participated in the oratory competition locally, according to CBS 11 News.
The first-place winner of the Dallas competition was Tristan Whitfield, a 5th grader from Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center. He was awarded $2,000 for his winning speech.
Whitfield reminded his audience that Dr. King “envisioned a world of love, not hate.” He said that the end of segregation would make Dr. King proud, as would equal access to jobs, property, and education for all.
Per CBS 11 News, Whitfield also made reference to America’s first Black president, Barack Obama, saying his election would have exceeded the late Dr. King’s expectations.
Per a press release from Foley & Lardner LLP, Whitfield further said that Dr. King would be expecting continued progress, as he believed that the betterment of humanity should be people’s core interest.
“We must continue to search our own hearts, drive out hate and remember why his dream was even necessary,” Whitfield said. He also quoted one of Dr. King’s sayings: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Whitfield urged his audience to live by it.
The usual amount for the first place award in the competition is $1,000. However, an anonymous donor pumped it up to $2,000.
The second-place winner in the Dallas competition was fifth-grader Jaliaha Rodgers, a student at JP Starks Math, Science, and Technology Vanguard. Third place honors went to Arianna Garcia, a fifth-grade student at L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary School.
