EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The prompts and deadline for this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest have been announced.

“Since this is my first year as the commission’s chairman, and as an educator, I am particularly excited to see what our state’s youth have to say regarding the legacy of Dr. King,” said Rep. Nathan Biah, who chairs the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission. “I encourage all of our students to participate in this year’s contest.”

Rhode Island middle and high school students can enter, and four winners will be picked.

First and second place entries are awarded $200 and $100, respectively.

High schoolers are asked to answer the following prompt:

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once wrote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Reflect on how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. connected civil rights leaders and everyday people across identities, workplaces, churches, and communities. Explore how Dr. King’s strategy is used or could be used to address an important civil rights issue today.

Middle schoolers are asked to answer this prompt:

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was especially inspired by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who joined him at several rallies. Which musicians or artists do you connect to King’s legacy of activism, equality, and peace? Quote some of their lyrics and include them in your essay about Dr. King.

Students who enter from high school are asked to type their essay on Microsoft Word and keep it between 750 and 1,000 words, while the word count for middle school entries is between 500 and 750 words.

Essays can be emailed, along with a permission slip signed by their parents, to rimlkessay@gmail.com no later than Monday, Dec. 2.

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