Students compete in Martin Luther King competition

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. probably never dreamed that people would memorize his words, which have carved a place in this country’s history. But he did dream of a country where all men are truly equal. In recognition of Black History Month, Jersey City kept King’s legacy very much alive by holding the city’s fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition, in which students recite King’s speeches and are judged on their performance. Mayor Bret Schundler created the competition five years ago in remembrance of all of Dr. King’s achievements and strides in the Civil Rights movement. “This was a dream of mine,” Schundler said. “Martin Luther King, I think, was one of the great Americans in our history.” Schundler addressed the contestants before the speeches began, explaining the importance of the literature they took weeks to memorize. “These are incredibly powerful ideas,” Schundler said, “and even today they have not been realized.” Contestants were judged on a 10-point scale on their clarity, memorization and presentation. They were also allotted a 10-minute limit to recite their speeches. The six judges, who included Ward F Councilwoman Melissa Holloway and Director of Public Works Kevin Sluka, awarded winners in two age brackets. For the finals held on Monday, children in grades 3-5 were pooled into one division, while a second included grades 6-8. Each division contained six finalists selected from preliminary competitions held during the month. First place winners received framed certificates and $500 bonds, provided by Summit Bank, according to the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Second place winners were awarded $250 bonds, while third place finishers took home a $100 bond. Honorable mention winners were awarded trophies for their hard work and effort. John Wade, a third grader at P.S. 12, collected First Place honors in the younger division for his rendition of “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” which King scripted while incarcerated in Alabama by the racist regime there. In the older division, Karen Pormento, an eighth grade student at St. Mary’s parochial school, won top honors for her version of the same piece. When asked if she was nervous, Pormento said “Of course I was,” while Wade said that he studied “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” for a couple of weeks before the competition kicked off on Feb. 14. Other winners in the grade 3 to 5 division included Christian Castro (P.S. 11, grade 5) and Leslie Njoku (Assumption All Saints, grade 5). In the older bracket, Samantha Gonzalez (St. Peter’s, grade 8) and Christian Putnam (St. Patrick’s, grade 8) made it to the winners circle. Honorable mention winners were Keith Cajuste (St. Patrick’s, grade 3) and his older sister Keisha (St. Patrick’s, grade 7), Rene Mulchansingh (St. Mary’s, grade 3), Shanes Reaves (St. Patrick’s, grade 5), Corey Lopez-Thomas (St. Peter’s, grade 8) and Raphael Zaki (St. Bridget’s, grade 6). The Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs, who organized the event, extended invitations to students in both public and parochial schools to participate in the competition. “Each year we are overwhelmed with the amount of participants,” said emcee Betty Outlaw, the deputy superintendent of elections for the Hudson County Board of Elections. “We have grown considerably each year.” Holloway addressed the small crowd in attendance and said that the children were speaking with such conviction that it could bring tears to your eyes. Many of the judges were impressed with the flawless performances of speeches, some of which were close to the 10-minute limit. “Martin Luther King’s words are powerful enough,” Holloway said. “But this is truly unbelievable.” King was assassinated in 1968 during the immense racial turmoil in the United States. In that same year, Robert Kennedy, also championing racial reform, was killed. Since his untimely death, King’s ideas of non-violence and racial harmony have shaped the way cultures interact. Though racism still exists in this country, his idea and words have served as the voice of reason and inspiration. “Martin Luther King helped to move us forward,” Schundler said to the contestants. “What makes us one people is the idea that we are equal.” Martin Luther King did his part,” the mayor continued. “He gave his life for these ideas. I’m hoping that you will be the ones to do that.”