....and the winners are:
(click on a name to see their essay)

Ruby Bridges
by Callie Parsons , Hendersonville Elementary

What could be scarier than to be one of the first black children to go to a white school? Ruby Bridges was truly an amazing little girl! She was one of the first little girls to go to a white school. I’ll tell you her story.

Ruby Bridges was born in Tylerton, Mississippi. Their family was really poor. In 1957, her family moved to New Orleans. Every Sunday her family went to church. At that time, black children and white children went to different schools. In 1960, a judge ordered Ruby to go to a white school. On her first day there was a crowd of angry white people yelling at her and some even wanting to kill her! The parents didn’t send their children to school because of Ruby. Ruby enjoyed school and she even prayed for the people that wanted to kill her!

I truly think Ruby was an amazing little girl. It would be very hard for me to do that. I think Ruby was very, very brave!

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7th Grade Winners

Althea Gibson
by Alyssa Gaines, Hendersonville Middle School

Althea Gibson was born in 1927 in the small town of Silver, South Carolina, but later moved to Harlem.

When she was young she skipped school frequently, getting her into trouble. After junior High she went to trade school, then worked many jobs before getting welfare. But instead of getting a job, Althea played recreational sports. One day aman discovered her playing paddle tennis. Seeing potential in her, he introduced her to tennis.

At the age of 15, Althea competed in and won her first tournament. Althea then graduated High School, and attended Florida A & M on a scholarship. She became frustrated and nearly quit, but in 1956, she managed to win the French Women’s Singles Championship. She became the first black woman to win Wimbledon, in 1957 and 1958. She retired and played golf, and was the first black woman to compete in the Ladies Professional Golf Association. She eventually returned to tennis.

The biggest challenge she had to face in her years playing tennis was the racial barrier. She overcame being a minority, and in 1971, she was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame. Her path from dangerous Harlem to the esteemed courts of Wimbledon is astounding. She pioneered the way for many black athletes.

She was 76 when she died. She lived an excellent life, and I believe that she should inspire everyone. Not just athletes, but anyone facing a challenge can learn from a person like this, who just doesn’t give up.

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Mary McLeod Bethune
by Makenna Dieon Stephens, Hendersonville Middle School

Mary McLeod Bethune was born in Maysville, South Carolina. Her mom’s name was Patsy. Mary worked for her mother’s former master and her dad was a builder, along with his two sons.

M ary saved up her money to buy five acres of land. Her brother and father built a house. Later on in years, she marries a teacher named Albert Bethune. She had dreamed of becoming a missionary in Africa, but after nine years of teaching she decided to dedicate herself to the education of blacks in the United States. Eventually she started a school for black girls. In two ears the school had grown from five pupils to a hundred-fifty. The school was too small, so she went looking for a new place to hpld her classes. She ended up buying a landfill.

She served as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s special Adviser on Minority Affairs for Negro Youth. They were so thankful she started a school for them. While they were at the school they learned how to read, write and do math. Mary deserved everything she got. She was a very loving and caring woman.

Overall, Mary helped by giving black girls a chance to learn. She gave the world knowledge. She, being a black woman in the segregated world she lived in, was very successful. She helped black girls be smart and showed them a light and proved that color didn’t measure smartness.

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Special Recognition Award

Presented to
Ms. Elizabeth Barbour, 3rd Grade Teacher, Fletcher Elementary School

Ms. Barbour has consistently encouraged her students to participate in the annual Black History Essay Contest. By her efforts she has challenged students to research, select and write about important African Americans. This early introduction to an encompassing understanding of what ramifications these noble people have on our every day lives will create in her students an everlasting impression and empathy. Her impact on these students will be felt throughout their academic career and later in life. - Barbara Hughes