CONTEST RULES AND DETAILS

  Topic: “How my identity intersects with the civil rights movement”

Open to South Asian-American Students in Grades 6-12

Gandhiji at a 1942 speech in Mumbai             Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 in DC

 

The contest closes at Noon EST February 14, 2021 Prizes: Winner(s) $1,000; Runner(s)-up $500

 

Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) and Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) are organizing an Essay and Art Contest for South Asian-American* students in Grades 6-12 to connect their identities with the historical and contemporary movements for civil and human rights.
 

The purpose of the essay is to promote dialogue within the South Asian-American community about how much they have benefited from the civil rights and voting rights struggles of the 60’s. And about how they can contribute meaningfully to the ongoing quest for social justice in America and elsewhere. 

In either an essay or a work of art, express how your identity informs your understanding of and response to the struggle for civil and human rights. How do you benefit from the efforts of those who fight for such rights? What does non-violence as a core principle of such struggles mean to you? Social, cultural, economic, political, and religious perspectives are all welcome. 

Approaches might include (but are not limited to): How do the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 relate to your experience as a South Asian-American today? How does your cultural or religious upbringing affect your engagement with the challenges of our present moment for social justice and human dignity? What are your moral obligations in the

face of these challenges? How does your identity intersect or conflict with contemporary civil and human rights issues: e.g., anti-black racism and the Black Lives movements, casteism, Islamophobia, LGBTQ+ communities/gender injustice, gun violence, economic disparities, etc.?
 

(* We welcome submissions from those who identify as bi-racial, transcultural, or whose identities intersect in meaningful ways with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka, and the United States.) 

Contest Rules and Details: 

SPONSORS:

Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) is a US based advocacy organization dedicated to working for religious and human rights in India, the US, and other South Asian countries, especially in the context of minority communities (see www.hindusforhumanrights.org).
 

Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) is an advocacy group committed to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos (see www.IAMC.com)
 

WHAT: Essay and Art contest on how your identity connects with the struggle for civil and human rights.
 

WHO: The contest is open to South Asian-American* students in Grades 6 through 12, of all faiths and traditions, residing in the United States.
 

WHEN: The contest closes at Noon EST February 14, 2021. Winners will be announced on March 1^st. Awards Ceremony will be on March 7^th.
 

CONNECTING WITH THE SELMA JUBILEE: This contest is timed to coincide with the 56^th anniversary commemoration of Bloody Sunday, which brought about the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We urge all contestants to pre-register for the virtual event March 5-7^th for a unique opportunity to listen to civil rights stalwarts then and now: http://www.selma50.com/
 

PRIZES: Winner(s) - $ 1,000; Runner(s)-up - $ 500
 

REGISTRATION: Please pre-register today at: https://tinyurl.com/y2mgngf6 to indicate your interest in participating in the contest so we can hold a place for you. 

ESSAY FORMAT:

•       700 words minimum; 1,000 words maximum
•       Microsoft Word (.docx) document; double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font
•       No Personal identification information may be in the body of the essay
•       Citations, if any, must be placed in the end, and will not be part of the word count

ARTWORK FORMAT: 8 ½ x 11 inch or 11 x 17 inch format

•       A high-resolution photograph of your artwork. 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY: