Congratulations to Kenneth Brown, a seventh-grade student at North Middle, who was selected as one of the five winners in the North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice (NCCU) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Contest.

“I feel great about winning,” Kenneth exclaimed. “I feel proud of myself and know my family is too. Not only for me but to represent the Hazelwood community feels good.”

Of 97 individuals who submitted written oratories and applications, 14 finalists were selected to present oratories about Dr. King Martin Luther King Jr. and the theme “Don’t Give up on the Dream.”  The speeches were conducted before a panel of judges. Through this process, five winners were selected to present their oratories at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Barrington students Camille Brown and Gabriella Chatman were two of the 14 finalists.

Brown’s speech addressed how Dr. King's dream remains unfulfilled and explored unequal opportunities through a creative analogy involving check-cashing. Kenneth used a financial metaphor to compare life opportunities to checks that can be cashed at different rates depending on where and who is cashing them.

“I wrote about how Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is still not accomplished yet,” Kenneth explained. “I also wrote about how everybody can have a chance, but their chance is not always equal to others. The main part of the analogy was that everybody can cash a check, but everyone’s check would not be equal.” Kenneth added, “Sometimes you can go to a bank and cash the check for the full amount, but other times you have to go to the check cashing place, and you will not get the full amount.”

The District is proud of Kenneth’s achievements and supports his commitment to never giving up on the dream.