RACIAL JUSTICE ESSAY CONTEST
EDUCATE
Meaningful scholarship opportunity for 9th-12th grade students in Auburn, Opelika, and Lee County public high schools.
Plans are underway for the 2022 Racial Justice Essay Contest. All 9th-12th grade students of Auburn, Opelika, and Lee County public high schools are eligible to submit an essay. In the essay, students are asked to examine the history of a specific racial injustice topic as well as its legacy today. Examples of topics include the creation of Lee County, racial terror lynchings in Lee County, the desegregation of Lee County City Schools, and more.
More details about our 2022 contest are coming soon! Sign up below to stay updated on all the latest information!
2021 AWARD WINNERS
Our inaugural racial justice essay contest drew many inspiring submissions! We are grateful for every student who invested their time to research and more fully understand vitally important issues of racial justice. 8 essays were chosen as our 2021 award winners:
1st Place
Mary Ellen Lancaster
2nd Place
Caderria Thomas
3rd Place
Braxton Harris
4th Place
Jireh Ray
5th Place
Jahunna Neston
Honorable Mentions
Clara Ragan
Dayzjah Walton
Miles Hunt

RECORDED PRESENTATIONS & RESOURCES
2021 Informational Meeting
Dr. Ashley Brown, LCRP Co-director
Check out our 2021 informational meeting to learn all about our racial justice essay contest! Please note that some dates and details may be different for our 2022 contest.
To review or share the slides covered, click here
Local History Panel Discussion
Ms. Selena Daniels, Mr. Wilbert Payne, Jr., Ms. Jean Madden and Mr. John Harris
To assist students research and understanding of local Lee County (and American) history, four Lee County residents shared their stories and experiences while growing up during integration in Lee County and advice they have for students today.
Click here to view highlights from this video.
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Reference Coordinator, Courtney Pinkard
Learn how to:
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Search the ADAH online catalogs to identify digitized documents, photographs and records for your topic area
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Explore the ADAH Youtube channels to learn more about your research theme and topic
Links:
Research to Preserve African American Stories and Traditions
Coordinator, Dr. Rob Bubb
Learn about:
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rPAAST's mission, research and research process
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How to search for digitized newspaper articles on newspapers.com and explore geneology sites like ancestry and family tree
Links:
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Rosenwald database example
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Newspapers.com (see login information above)