To celebrate the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the Homewood Public Library Teen Advisory Board created the We Are The Dream project. Their idea was to hold a creative contest where other local 6^th-12^th graders could submit artwork or a poem/story that was inspired by the messages of Dr. King. From January 1-20, 2021 teens submitted their entries. The Homewood Star recently highlighted the project and interviewed two of our Teen Advisory Board members. The article can be viewed here.

Our judges reviewed all submissions and selected several for placement. Teens who have selected entries will win a prize bag that can be picked up via curbside. Thank you to everyone who submitted entries. We appreciate you taking the time to reflect on Dr. King and channeling that reflection into your writing and/or art.

1st Place: Abdurraheem Ben-Mahmoud, 9th Grade at Jackson-Olin High School
2nd Place: Khadija Khan, 10th Grade at Shades Valley High School
3rd Place: Zoe Burnley, 7th Grade at Advent Episcopal School
Honorable Mention: Vivian Laslo, 7th Grade at Creative Montessori School
Honorable Mention: Je’Nae Nash, 9th Grade at Jackson-Olin High School
Honorable Mention: Alleah Stringer, 12th Grade at Calera High School

Below are the selected entries in their entirety.

1st Place: Abdurraheem Ben-Mahmoud, 9th Grade at Jackson-Olin High School
We Are The Dream

Dreams aren’t visions that you see when you lay your head to rest
Dreams are goals that reflect you the best
Mr Luther wanted to put the racism to rest
And to do this he made something to get his dreams off his chest
He didn’t cower to the higher power
Instead he found for what many people didn’t realize was left
Equality and peace
Many things were done before he sadly deceased
His speech could be compared to kings
Or queens
Many things were accomplished after he sadly deceased
Years later his vision was made to be
And that’s why we are the Dream
He didn’t fight for the now
He fought so that someday, somehow
We could live as we do
Buildings and Buses that hold all people from green to blue
Children and Adults to live together through and through
And I know that life is not as perfect and clean as it seems
But life would be a lot worse without the men and women who fought with their might, ever so supreme
I am inspired and I’m proud to say that We Are The Dream

2nd Place: Khadija Khan, 10th Grade at Shades Valley High School

3rd Place: Zoe Burnley, 7th Grade at Advent Episcopal School
One Man                              

One man changed the world.
One man spoke up when no one else would.
One man chose peace.
One man is all it took to change history.
This man is the reason my brothers and sisters have freedom.
This man is the man that moved the hearts of thousands of people.  
This man is the reason that I am proud of my culture and my beautiful black skin.
This man will forever and always be my hero.

Honorable Mention: Vivian Laslo, 7th Grade at Creative Montessori School

Honorable Mention: Je’Nae Nash, 9th Grade at Jackson-Olin High School
We Are The Dream

Is the dream still alive
Or is it all a lie
Do we have equal rights
Or equal pride
Do we live up to our full potential
Do we scream or do we fight
Do we come together as whole
Do we stand together as a union
Can we live in peace like Martin Luther king jr
Didn’t he have a dream.

Honorable Mention: Alleah Stringer, 12th Grade at Calera High School

Black feet
White feet
Marched united
With Dr. King.

Across the bridge
To bridge the gap
Between Blacks and Whites
No turning back.

Tubman, Malcolm, Parks, and King:
They set us free.
These brave leaders
Are who I aspire to be.

Up from slavery
In the white cotton fields
To the big White House
Now, we’re passing bills.