The Council for Social Justice NJ Announces Black History Month Essay Contest 2024 Winners
The contest challenged high school students to reflect on diversity and racial injustice.
(Somerset, NJ, 2/28/2024) – The New Jersey chapter of ICNA Council for Social Justice, (ICNA CSJ NJ) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 statewide Black History Month Essay Contest.
High school students were asked to write 600 words or less on the following topics:
- 11th & 12th Grade: Compare and contrast the status of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories with the status of Blacks in Apartheid South Africa
- 9th & 10th Grade: Racial injustice in society and your civic responsibility
After careful review of all submitted essays, our panel of judges announced the following winners:
Winners 2024
Category: 11th & 12th Grades
Topic: Compare and contrast the status of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories with the status of Blacks in Apartheid South Africa
1st Prize: The Tears of Injustice – By Shifa Eraj
Rutgers Preparatory School
2nd Prize: Echoes of Displacement: Parallel narratives of resilience in Palestine and apartheid-era South Africa – By Suleiman Kouar
Darul Arqam School
3rd Prize: Parallels and Disparities: The plight of Palestinians and Blacks in apartheid regimes – By Zainab Ijaz
Rising Star Academy
Category: 9th & 10th Grades
Topic: Racial injustice in society and your civic responsibility
1st Prize: Racial Injustice in society and your civic responsibility – by By Dejalee Marmolejos
An-Noor Academy
2nd Prize: Racial Injustice and our civic duties – by By Aesha Badawi
Rising Star Academy
3rd Prize – What are our responsibilities in the face of injustice? – by By Rufaida Hossain
An-Noor Academy
Previous Years’ Winners
Winning Essays 2023
- Grades 9 & 10: The Power of Diversity in the Community
- Grades 11 & 12: Racial Injustice and the Responsibility of Youth
- Grades 11 & 12
- 1st prize: The Intention of Innovation: How Social Media Intersects with Racial Justice by Imaad Siddiqui of Princeton, NJ
- 2nd prize: Unbiased Brotherhood: The Islamic Approach to Racial Discrimination by Alisha Noor Chaudhry of Princeton, NJ
- 3rd prize: SOCIAL MEDIA: A World On Fire by Muhammad Siddiqui of Piscataway, NJ
- Grades 9 & 10
- 1st prize: Discrimination within Diversity: Anti-Blackness in the Muslim Community by Shaimaa Al-Zaman of Princeton Junction, NJ
- 2nd prize: Being the Same is Mediocre by Noor Alawi of Wayne, NJ
- 3rd prize: The Competence of Present Diversity by Rayhana Choudhury of Fair Lawn, NJ
Winning Essays 2022
- Grades 9 & 10: The Power of Diversity in the Community
- Grades 11 & 12: Racial Injustice and the Responsibility of Youth
After careful review of all submitted essays, our panel of judges announced the following winners:
- Grades 11 & 12
- 1st prize: Racial Injustice and the Responsibility of Youth by Salma Abdallah of East Orange, NJ
- 2nd prize: What Should I Do? by Rahma Rizly of Piscataway, NJ
- 3rd prize: Our Responsibility on Racism by Afnan Abbassi of Washington Township, NJ
- Grades 9 & 10
- 1st prize: Discrimination within Diversity: Anti-Blackness in the Muslim Community by Shaimaa Al-Zaman of Princeton Junction, NJ
- 2nd prize: Being the Same is Mediocre by Noor Alawi of Wayne, NJ
- 3rd prize: The Competence of Present Diversity by Rayhana Choudhury of Fair Lawn, NJ
First prize winners in both age groups will receive a new tablet. Second and third prize winners will receive $200 and $100 gift cards respectively.