Last December, the Paducah-McCracken County NAACP held its annual Fredricka Hargrove, Martin Luther King Essay/Poster Contest for grades K through 12.
From the Paducah-McCracken County NAACP:
"We are so happy to do this contest each year. All winners and their families are invited to the Annual Essay/Poster celebration, held on January 16th at Paducah Middle School at 2:00 pm (weather pending).
Principals, teachers, and school staff are invited as well. There is no admission fee, but we are asking all attendees to please wear masks."
The NAACP received over 250 submissions from schools across McCracken County. The first-place winners' contributions are below.
The theme for the K through 3rd grade poster contest was "What does Love and Helping People Look Like." Creative interpretation was encouraged.
The theme for the 2022 Essay contest was "Darkness Cannot Drive out Darkness." Essay topics centered on how to bring light and love into our community. The writers were given a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a prompt:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hatred cannot drive out hatred. Only love can do that."
K-3rd Grade Winner:
May Bella, 1st grade (Lone Oak Elementary School)
4th-5th Grade Winner:
Samuel Warren, 5th grade (Heath Elementary School)
"How Can I Show Light and Love?"
"Martin Luther King, JR. was a man of perseverance and freedom movement. He was a beacon. He had a message of freedom, equality, justice, and love. He was not a United States President or a war hero, but a citizen activist for civil rights and peace. Like he did, I can show light and love everywhere I go."
6th Grade Winner:
Calleigh Eidson (Heath Middle School)
"Light and love is something that the world today is lacking, especially since the pandemic hit, but I believe that we as a community can look back at Martin Luther King and apply his words to the present in hopes of creating a better future. Although there is very little light and love in the world currently, there is some."
7th Grade Winner:
Alex White (Paducah Middle School)
"Darkness Cannot Drive Out Darkness"
"I truly feel that if we feed the homeless, educate our youth, help others, and have open discussions with different races that our community will be on the way to changing for the better. Dr. King worked so hard to promote love and equality for all. We must continue his legacy and make sure that we are all living out his dream by helping the community that we live in!"
8th Grade Winner:
Ava Russell (Paducah Middle School)
"I believe that sometimes, it can be scary to fight love with hate. When someone is exhibiting aggressive or oppressive behavior it can take a lot of courage to try not to simply retaliate...Love wins, no matter what the situation may be, and that is a statement that has always been true and will always remain true."
9th-12th Grade Winner:
Nathaniel Skinner, 11th grade (Paducah Tilghman High School)
"Love: The Light That Powers Paducah"
"Love isn't just a feeling. It is also an action. When we love, we can't help but be the light. Like Martin Luther King Jr. said, only light can drive out darkness, and only love can drive out hatred. I see that happening in Paducah, and I am proud to say that the youth are a big part of that. I see the light overtaking the darkness, and I see love overpowering hate."
