Off the success of last year’s essay contest, the Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) is making good on their aim for the event to be run annually. The theme for this year is “Local Lens: The Black Experience in Halton,” where students can produce essays on a more personal theme to enter into the contest.
This year also brings the option of video entries, to be from three to 10 minutes long. Essays should be a maximum of three pages (2000 words), and first, second, and third place winners will be chosen from the essays and from the videos. The deadline for entries is May 19, 2023, by 5 p.m.
Entrants are expected to research and provide citations to expound on the impact of Black history on themselves and/or peers, family, and wider society; the importance of cultural history on them; the importance of Black history to them and to society. Application forms and further information can be found here.
Last year’s winning essays by Tobi Oyedele (first place co-winner); Jackson Carter (first place co-winner); Mya Tatum (second place); and Zahra Ba (third place) were published by Local-news.ca (click on the winners’ names above to read their essays), and were celebrated at the HBHAS Gala at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Renowned author Lawrence Hill spoke on “Being Black in Canada” at the gala; double-JUNO winners Liberty Silver and Eddie Bullen performed. Another gala is being planned for 2023.
