‘Our voices will unite with the rhythm of equality’: 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest winners share their powerful words | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service January 17, 2022 All six winners attend Milwaukee Public Schools. (Photos courtesy of individual students) Editor’s note: For the 39th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest, local students responded to the theme, “We Must Speak” from Dr. King’s address, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence” given at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967. (Photo provided by Jasper Goochey) Jasper Goochey is in the third grade at Trowbridge Street School of Great Lakes Studies. Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing! When we speak out, we show our power, our grace and our love. Speaking out makes people listen even if they may or may not agree with what you are saying. If you have ever spoken out, you know that it makes you feel powerful. Speaking out isn’t just for big things. I speak out in class all the time. Speaking out is effective but at times it takes a while for your voice to be recognized. My mom and dad’s friend Mark spoke out about LGBTQ justice. It wasn’t done in the correct manner. Mark had to face the consequences and was arrested! Sometimes speaking out can be scary. It makes you feel big but also very small, because you don’t always feel heard. How can we speak out? Dr. King spoke out about rights for everyone, no matter what color, race or background they were. He was arrested and beaten many times. However, every time he regained his freedom, he got stronger and kept speaking out. You have to remember that speaking out usually takes time. When speaking out there are a few things to keep in mind. Keep going and never give up. You can do this! As Dr. King states, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” These words stick with me when I feel the need to SPEAK OUT! (Photo provided by Aaliyah Cooper Durant) Aaliyah Cooper Durant is in the fifth grade at Samuel Clemens School. Have you stopped to think about the power of your voice? Not just the sound that it makes, but the power of your voice to move within you and give you the confidence to speak up. Now more than ever, Dr. King calls us to “speak with all the humility that is appropriate to our limited vision, but we must speak.” I believe connecting the power of our voice with action will bring positive change to a world that needs us! I envision a world where we use the power of our voices to talk about our problems instead of ignoring them. Sit down with people who you think are your “enemies” so that you can really understand each other. Hate happens when we don’t know each other! Now is the time to be more open minded and accepting instead of using our voices to divide people. I call on lawmakers to act with integrity and use their voices to make laws that are fair and equal for every person, no matter who they are. Keep marching, protesting and speaking out against injustice. Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” When you see something wrong, stand up, and speak up! Speak up against cruelty. Say “No!” to people who pick up guns and kill because they believe they can. Say “Enough!” to bullies who use their cruel words to hurt. Speak out against rules that separate people according to race and ignorance. We must unite to speak out against war instead of fighting violently for world peace! I envision a world where we use the power of our voice to build each other up. Speak with kindness and respect. Help students develop their growth mindsets so that what they say to themselves is just as important as what they say to other people! We need to lift each other up as positive role models. Now is the time to speak up because later will be too late. Speak up and make a difference today. The time is now, and the time is right to take our place as future leaders! (Photo provided by Eleanor Lawton) Eleanor Lawton is in the sixth grade at Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts. It is very important to speak up for what you believe in. You are helping many people without even knowing it. You are standing up for yourself and others who may not be able to. When you give up on something like this, what you want to change may not be possible. If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t fight for what he believed in, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Standing up for people or something you believe in is a great act of kindness and shows that you care about that person or idea. Speaking up can change the world forever.