RICK MAHORN BIG MAN CAMP ANNOUNCES ESSAY CONTEST FOCUSING ON HOW TO COMBAT RACISM
The Rick Mahorn Big Man Camp, in association with the non-profit Spirit of the Game, Inc., announces an essay contest for students on the topic "How can we overcome racism in our communities?"
Winning entrants will receive both a financial prize and a matching stipend to be used to help implement their proposed idea.
From the time that Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the National Anthem to the recent protests following the murder of George Floyd, police violence against African Americans has been repeatedly brought to the nation's attention. Perhaps more than ever before in recent times, the majority of American society is poised to see change take place.
Following the Nazi genocide of six million Jews and the murder of millions of others during World War 2, social scientists devoted considerable efforts to the question of how prejudice can be reduced, pioneering significant work in both research and practical areas.
In what might be seen as one of history's ironies, sociologist Emory Bogardus developed what he called a "social distance scale" to measure people's willingness to maintain contact with members of other ethnic or racial groups. Subsequent research in this area led to the widely accepted conclusion that simply increasing contact between groups in such settings as sports, schools or neighborhoods, in and of itself was not a sufficient condition for improving relations between groups or races, and in certain circumstances could actually lead to a deterioration of such relations, including an increase in prejudice and the strengthening of stereotypes.
In the 1970s, a team of social psychologists working in Houston with police and community groups during a period of tension, found that the two sides shared far more points of common interest than items that divided them.
Whether it is a matter of highlighting matters of common interest or otherwise focusing on how the readiness for change can propel multiple groups into joint action, this essay contest is calling for a broad range of ideas large and small that offer a measure of effective impact if put into practice. The hope is that these ideas can inspire efforts to combat racism and help us summon what Abraham Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature."
Contest rules and procedures
1. The contest is open to each of the following three groups:
Group A: Any student who completed 8th grade or
lower in the spring of 2020
Group B: Any student who has completed 9th
through 12th grade in the spring of 2020
Group C: College students or others to age 23
2. Your essay should describe your idea for a program in your community that can improve relations between groups and help combat racism or any other form of hateful discrimination shown toward a particular group in our society. It should include how you came up with this idea (based on things you have noticed or read), why you think this can help bring change, who would be involved, how your proposal would work, and a time framework for evaluating its effectiveness.
3. While it is not a requirement, essays incorporating the world of sports are particularly welcomed.
4. Essays should be submitted as word document to info@bigman.camp no later than August 1, 2020.
5.Before sending essays to our judging panel, we may ask you to revise your essay if it is felt that some details need to be elaborated upon.
3. While it is not a requirement, essays incorporating the world of sports are particularly welcomed.
4. Essays should be submitted as word document to info@bigman.camp no later than August 1, 2020.
5.Before sending essays to our judging panel, we may ask you to revise your essay if it is felt that some details need to be elaborated upon.
6. Essay prizes will be awarded as follows:
Group A: One or more entrants will receive a $500 personal grant as well as a $500 stipend to be used to implement the proposal presented
Groups B and C: One or more entrants will receive a $750 personal grant as well as a $750 stipend to be used to implement the proposal presented
7. The amount of the stipend may be increased upon the decision of the contest organizers. The organizers also reserve the right to decline to make an award in any group if no submission merits consideration.
8. All essays will become the property of the Rick Mahorn Big Man Camp and The Spirit of the Game, Inc and may be published
9. Questions regarding the contest may be addressed to info@bigman.camp
OUR PANEL OF JUDGES WILL BE LISTED SOON.
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