Winners of the 26th ASALH/DLAMC-DEA Essay Contest

Lift ev’ry voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise high as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died.
Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered;
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered.
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by thy might, led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world we forget thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.

All students from grades K-12 were invited to share their thoughts about the black national anthem and these presidents by participating in the 26 th Dayton ASALH/DLAMC-DEA African American History Contest.

K-6 STUDENTS
Tell how you would feel if you were in that group of students performing “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” for the first time at a birthday celebration for President Lincoln, knowing the poem was written by your principal.

7-12 STUDENTS
Explain the significance of this anthem being presented on President Lincoln’s birthday in 1900 and being introduced by President Barack Obama to close a program honoring Civil Rights Movement music on February 9, 2010 OR Explain how each verse illustrates African American history.

CRITERIA: Originality/Creativity, Historical accuracy, as appropriate, Grammar and usage, Neatness

SUBMISSION: Entries--with the student’s name, grade and school/institution and teacher or mentor—must be mailed to
Essay Contest, DLAMC/DEA, 1013 N. Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45406.

DEADLINE: Friday, April 6, 2010

QUESTIONS : Mpeters0312@sbcglobal.net or 274-8362

Margaret Peters, President Diana Black, Chair
Dayton Association for the Study Doris L. Allen Minority Caucus
of African American Life & History Dayton Education Association
ASALH DLAMC/DEA

Kids Voting Essay Contest Winners

Kids Voting First Place Winner
Taylor Kingston
150th Anniversary Lincoln in Dayton, OH
September 17, 2009

The Unlikely Mender: Remembering Abraham Lincoln

Americans subconsciously remember July 4th 1865 as the day that almost was not, because on that day America almost was not, and history as we know it almost was lost with the significance of that one day – July 4th 1865 – the eighty-ninth celebration of the birth of the United States of America. However, this day that was does not grace our history books because it marked no significant change in the fabric of the nation; the nation had made it to its birthday in one piece despite the threat of disintegration posed by the Civil War, even if America had come out a little more tattered than it had gone in, and it owed its life to the tender care of an unlikely mender who had skillfully restored it to a condition acceptable for such a fine piece of cloth. The mender, unlike the emblematic date, is cherished by the thankful threads of posterity. He is the icon to whom we turn back when we are unable to thread the needle, and he alone is the one who we trust to guide our hand. Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States of America, stands no less tall in memory than he did when he walked “this hallowed ground.”

Lincoln was not handsome at best, awkward at least and nothing more than a poor farm boy when he was born to a Kentucky frontiersman in 1809. As a boy, he wasn’t given all the opportunities that America gave thousands of others living and learning in an environment of knowledge and breeding. But Abe stole his chances and won his battles with poverty and ignorance to become a giant of influence and thought. Lincoln represents the common man and he makes common something special with his example and his words: “I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father’s child has.” Lincoln who was even once kicked in the head by a mule took what came in stride, and strode long and far as he took advantage of the span which his long, gangly legs permitted him to cover and conquer.

Though a giant he may have been, his chosen weapon was the written word, and he wielded it perhaps more expertly than any president before or since. His Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address and two Inaugural speeches ring through the centuries as true inspiration among the din of presidential words void of poignancy if adorned and flourished when they were first spoken. However, Lincoln’s words have withstood the test of silence. Having been stored away in a sort of treasure check of American wisdom, his words may be brought forth at any time and be read silently by an American of any decade or century and still invoke the emotion which guided his own pen as he subscribed. The thoughts which he put down were old thoughts then and sacred thoughts now, ideas about the threadwork of America of which Thomas Jefferson may be seen as the original weaver and he as the great preserver.

Lincoln cut so deeply into the prized cloth of America that he risked the whole in order to extract from it a single thread, a thread not worthy of its host. In doing so he also risked – then gave – his life, and yet saved so many souls. Lincoln could have served his term, content to be President of a nation divided, allowing the Confederacy to separate and cite “irreconcilable differences.” Even more easily, he could have turned his head to the enslavement of tens of thousands of people and followed a precedent of pretending that Africans were subhuman in order to dodge the incriminating phrase, “all men are created equal.” On his broad shoulders, however, Lincoln accepted the burden of America’s indiscretions. “…I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.”

So it was on April 9th 1865, that General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox and the Confederacy and the Union once again became one in the same: the United States of America. Just under two months later, on July 4th 1865, the nation would celebrate its birthday as the “land of the free,” with its anthem reaffirmed, and with “our flag was still there.” Now the flag’s preserver we honor and thank for the course of history that we cherish and for the preservation of freedom that he ensured. It is President Abraham Lincoln who we credit with the coming of that day and this.

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Kids Voting Second Place Winner
Olivia Lower
150th Anniversary Lincoln in Dayton, OH
September 17, 2009

Abraham Lincoln’s Presidency

Out 16th president, Mr. Abraham Lincoln, made a huge impact on America by leading America through the Civil War during his presidency. His presidency still has effects on people today. As an outspoken rival of the expansion of slavery, Lincoln won the Republican Party nomination in 1860 and was elected president later that year. He introduced ideas that abolished slavery. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Lincoln became the first American president to be assassinated.

Lincoln supervised the war effort, he selected top generals. Lincoln successfully calmed the Trent affair; a war thread with Britain in 1861. Under his presidency, the Union took control of the border slave states at the start of the war. The extremist Republicans criticized him for moving too slowly in abolishing slavery while his opponents criticized Lincoln for refusing to compromise on the slavery issue. Even with these challenges, Lincoln gained public opinion with his speeches. At the end of the war, Lincoln sought to reunite the nation. Abraham Lincoln has been ranked as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents.

With the Republicans as the nation’s major party by the 1850s, politics were where tensions were played out. Although much of the west was unfit for cotton farming, Southern secessionists knew the downfall as a sign that their power in politics was weakening. Before slavery had been reinforced by the Democratic Party, the pro-southern side permitted Southerners to control national politics. The election of 1860 was a critical one. It marked a harsh change in patterns of party loyalties among voters. Abraham Lincoln’s election was a turning point in the balance of power of the political parties, shifting power from the liberalist to the conservative side.

Lincoln understood the importance of defeating the enemy’s army, rather than capturing territory. He had limited his success by delaying him motivating his generals to use his strategies until late 1863 when he found a man who shared his vision of the war, Ulysses S. Grant. Only then could he persistently practice coordinated offensives and have a top general who agreed on allowing the use of black troops. Lincoln showed a heavy interest with military campaigns. He spent hours at the War Department telegraph office, reading dispatches from the field. He visited battle sites frequently, and was fascinated by war.

In conclusion, Mr. Abraham Lincoln was definitely one of the greatest and most inspiring presidents in the history of the United States of America. His efforts in everything he has done and set his mind to have been exceptional.

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Kids Voting Third Place Winner
DeAisha Williams
150th Anniversary Lincoln in Dayton, OH
September 17, 2009

The Importance of Lincoln

Lincoln’s presidency was extremely important to America. He led our country many years ago but contributed a lot to our society. He had a strong vies on how to this country should be ran and was willing to enforce his beliefs to make this country a better place. Abraham Lincoln was focused on becoming a true American leader to the United States and was determined to follow through. He being in office changed a lot of things in the world and helped old it into what it is today.

Abraham Lincoln contributed to the spread of freedom across America. At the time, slavery was still a large issue throughout the country and was ultimately becoming bothersome to Lincoln. He campaigned against an act that opened land to slavery to the possibility of it spreading. Lincoln found this act immoral and by the time he was elected he endorsed the 13th amendment, in the Emancipation Proclamation, abolishing slavery. This accomplishment was set to change the future of racism for a life time.

Abraham Lincoln made memorable speeches that influenced the way our country evolved. His inaugural speeches and his Gettysburg address made a major impact in our country. In the Gettysburg Address he talked about how men are all created equal and should be honored as they serve our country. This speech provided a sense of pride to all who believed in being dedicated in defending their country, yet needed words of motivation. This speech was one of the most famous speeches in American history.

Abraham Lincoln made independent actions that led him to make the right decisions in any situation. Even as a war leader, he used his same style for leading the country as he did when leading his men in war. He thoroughly designed his plans so that they are stable and victorious. His guiding rule was: “My policy is to have no policy.” With that he meant that he will not follow a set of rules, orders or directions unless they will benefit the well being of the country. This policy has greatly influenced other presidents as well.

Lincoln’s presidency was important to America. He being in office opened up a lot of opportunities for citizens today. He held a position of justice and dedication to this country that will be forever remembered. His legacy will live on through the presidents that follow in his path for many more years to come. Abraham Lincoln was truly one of our greatest presidents.