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Oratorical Speech Contest: A Celebration Of MLK
April 14 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Free
Step into history and witness the power of words at the MLK, Jr. Oratorical Speech Contest in Dublin, GA. Join together on Sunday, April 14th, at 3 PM for a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and the enduring impact of his oratory.
Held at the historic First African Baptist Church, where a young Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his inaugural public speech in 1944, this annual oratorical event promises to inspire and enlighten. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a tradition that continues to honor the past and empower the future through the art of speech-making.
MLK Jr. Oratorical Contest
2024 Theme: African Americans and the Arts
Students from 6th grade to college freshmen are invited to compete in the oratorical speech contest for a chance to win a cash prize!
This year’s theme examines the varied history and life of African American arts and artisans. For centuries Western intellectuals denied or minimized the contributions of people of African descent to the arts as well as history, even as their artistry in many genres was mimicked and/or stolen. However, we can still see the unbroken chain of Black art production from antiquity to the present, from Egypt across Africa, from Europe to the New World.
Suggested topics for this year include: Basket-Making: A Three-Hundred Year Tradition, & The Artistry of the Sweet-grass Basket Additional suggestions can be found in the 2024 Oratorical Contestant’s Package.
Contestant Categories & Prizes
This contest is FREE and open to all in these categories.
Prizes range from $10 for participation, to $500 for first prize in designated grade categories!
Contest Workshop
An Oratorical Speech Round-Up Rally and Workshop is being held Saturday, March 30th from 12:30 PM to 2 PM at First African Baptist Church. If you are applying for the contest, please plan to attend the workshop.
Application & Info
Applications are due no later than Saturday, March 30th. For the application package, click here: 2024 – Oratorical Contestant Package
Application can be mailed to: MLK Oratorical Speech Contest; 1105 Edgewood Drive Dublin, GA 31021
For Information call: Jerry Davis 478-697-6817 or Marilyn Moore 478-275-0967.
History
In 1944, the Colored Elks Clubs of Georgia held their state convention at First African Baptist Church in Dublin GA and sponsored an essay contest. Fifteen year old Martin Luther King Jr. read his essay at the convention and won first place.
In 2012, a group of dedicated civic-minded individuals sponsored the first-ever Oratorical Speech Contest in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. giving his first public speech. A monument now commemorates his first speech across the street from the historic church.
