ALLEN
Haden Xavier Allen, a 16-year-old Jamaican-born American who now lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is one of 10 finalists chosen from more than 2,000 contestants to win the 2006 NBC4/WRC-TV 4 Black History Month Essay Contest. Below is an excerpt from his essay.
LEGENDARY CIVIL rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "The black man is the gem of God's human race ..." This quotation says mouthfuls for the African race worldwide. The continent of Africa has dispersed some of the most successful leaders this planet has branded.
Being a young black man residing in the prosperous country of the United States, I have grown to appreciate all the opportunities which have been made available for me. Great black leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, Dr. Benjamin Carson, Benjamin Banneker, and the late Rosa Parks have all proven that anybody can accomplish the impossible.
FUTURE GENERATIONS
These people have provided future generations with the chance to become something nobody believed we were capable of. There are still thousands of black persons in America who fail to recognise and appreciate the achievements of their people. Hence, Black History Month presents them with the knowledge necessary to evolve into great leaders of tomorrow. I personally was once unaware of the opportunities that I could take advantage of.
I am a 16-year-old young black man who hopes to mature into a political and social leader of this great country. At the age of 13, I read Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. This novel both inspired and informed me. I was able to withdraw various historical concepts which were never made evident to me in the past.
Over time, our people have learned not to resort to violent acts in retaliation of racism. Civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has proven the legitimacy of peaceful acts time and time again. Through his non-violent protests and his peaceful marches, Dr. King was able to convey his message to the audience of America.
From time to time I refer to reggae great Bob Marley's Redemption Song, where he sings, "... Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds ..." (words borrowed from National Hero Marcus Garvey). I look back to this quote over and over just to remind myself that I am who I believe I am. Though I have personally been slandered with mental slavery through racist comments and slurs, I have learned to overcome them through self-appreciation.
NEW-FOUND KNOWLEDGE
Not only has this new-found knowledge helped me to grow as an African American, it has assisted my maturation process as a human being. I feel now that I am more confident than I have ever been before, in terms of my overall mindset. Hence, through reading and learning, you can accomplish anything you wish.
There seems to be many people who stereotype our race at the blink of an eye. They assume that all black youths are gang members, hoodlums, and pregnant teenage girls. These assumptions just anger me to the point where I feel I need to do something about it. However, instead of resorting to violence, I will prove all of America's doubters wrong. I will strive to become the most successful black man this country has ever seen; and I will do it with confidence.
