2012 MLK Young People's Oratorical Contest
The Real Word on Social Media: Student Show the Power of Oratory Transcends All
by
Dwight Bachman, Public Relations Officer
Eastern Connecticut State University
Last year, Angela-Renay Carr, of Kennedy High School in Waterbury, in
one of the most competitive oratorical contests ever, took second place in the 8th Annual Brother Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young People’s Oratorical Contest, sponsored by the BSL Educational Foundation Inc.; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Greater Hartford Chapter Beta Sigma Lambda; and the Travelers Insurance Company, held at the Bethel AME Church in Bloomfield. This year, during the eighth annual contest, Carr recently walked away with top honors, receiving a unanimous vote as she tackled the question “What Impact Does Social Media Have on Communication and Culture? Carr, without ever once looking at notes, beautifully and passionately told the sad and tragic story of 11-year old Carl Walker-Hoover, who, along with school administrators at his charter school, was unable to deal with the relentless abuse he suffered from social media cyber bullies, and hung himself.
Carr cited statistics showing more than half of adolescents and teens
have been bullied online and more than one young person in every three
has experienced online threats. Unfortunately, only 1 out of every 10 teens will tell their parents what has happened to them, she said, and that less than 1 out of 5 incidents are reported to. Sadly, for little Carl Walker-Hoover, “the only solution that he could think of to stop his suffering permanently was the eternal embrace of death,” said Carter. What a gripping thought.
Carr received thunderous applause for her very appropriate solution – stop
tweeting and learn from African American history. “In the 1960s, taking action
against segregation did not involve making Facebook pages for it, tweeting about it, or favoriting someone’s post that pertained to it. What changed America those years ago were men, women, children, white posters, wooden sticks, magic markers, tired feet, sore legs, splintered hands, songs, chants, and speeches. I implore you to close the laptops, net books, and notebooks; put down the tablets and smart phones; and do what was once the only method the people had of getting their voices heard – SPEAK!”
Carr won the top prize of $3,000 US Saving Bond scholarship for her
presentation in the high school division of the contest. Other contestants articulated similar themes. Jeremy Grier of Pathway to Technology Magnet High School in Windsor, citing how pervasive social media had become, and noting the “cold, insensitive hurtful thugs” who use it to bully people, took the second place prize of $2,000. Grier said, “Social media will never replace face-to-face communication.” Vaeyanna Lettman of Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, took third place ($1,000), noting that “we’d rather text than talk; this is a weird world that is weakening our minds because we are now hiding behind the computer. Let’s end the cover up,” she said. Erica Beavers of Connecticut River Academy in East Hartford, took home the fourth place prize of $500, citing how social media “tweeted out and tracked down tyrants” in the Middle East.
In the middle school division, Naja Davis-Drew, of Noah Webster Micro
Society Magnet School in Hartford, won first place ($3,000), arguing that social
media creates “artificial relationships” among many other negative influences.
Pierre Augustin, Hartford Magnate Trinity College Academy in Hartford, took
second place ($2,000), couching his presentation in an imaginary conversation
with Dr. King. Augustin thought King “would be “blown away” with the impact of social media. Augustin wondered what Dr. King, a top-notched student, would think of young people who spent most of their time texting instead of studying to pass a basic exam. Third place ($1,000) in the middle school division went to
Michelle Tang, of King Philip Middle School in West Hartford. Tang, who also never used notes, cited President’s Obama’s effective use of social media to win the 2008 presidential election. “In a new virtual world, President Obama understood social media, and harnessed it to get his message out and energize young people everywhere. In doing so, he became the first African American president in the nation’s history.”
Jordis Gomes-Ferres of Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in Hartford took home the fourth place prize ($500). He argued that social media is a major distraction for young people. “You are an extraterrestrial being. You are the only one who will ever be you. You are special. Social media makes you forget this.” Evidence abounds on the positive impact of social media. It has made everyone feel like they have a voice. It has given the common person the ability to say exactly what they feel in their very own microcosm consisting of friends or followers, but the young people participating in this oratorical contest know, as one put it, “social media has the potential to turn your best friend into your worst
enemy.”
Judges for the contest included Joelle Hayes, vice president for Enterprise,
Diversity and Inclusion at Travelers; Ron Johnson, law student at UConn; and
Ratasha Terry, education technology specialist for the Capital Region Education
Council; and Stephanie Laudone, adjunct professor of sociology at UMass/Lowell. Following the formal contest, the Orators were greeted by family and friends at a reception/dinner in Johnson Hall of Bethel AME Church. More than 300 persons attended the event and walked away awed by the sheer brilliance of the Orators and their skills to reach across generations on a theme which is relevant and pervasive among our youth and adults.
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