The New Jersey chapter of ICNA Council for Social Justice (ICNA CSJ) is pleased to announce the winners of the statewide Black History Month Essay Contests:
2025 Winners
- Grades 11 & 12
- 1st prize: Change Begins With Us by Jannat Zaanoun from Monroe Township High School
- 2nd prize: The Fight Isn’t Over: Understanding and Combating Racial Injustice as the Youth by Zoeya Pasha from Watchung Hills Regional High School, Warren NJ
- 3rd prize: Finding our Power by Safa Rahman from South Brunswick High School
- Grades 9 & 10
- 1st prize: Unequal Justice: The Racial Disparities in America’s Legal System by Shayan Malik from Noor Ul Iman School, Monmouth Junction NJ
- 2nd prize:Voices of Change: How The Youth Redefine the Fight Against Racial Injustice by Hania Hashmi from An-Noor Academy, Piscataway NJ
- 3rd prize: The Impact of Systemic Racism in Law Enforcement and the Judicial System on Society by Karima Kayed from Rising Star Academy, Union City NJ
- Grades 7 & 8
- 1st prize: Weathering the Tides by Jacob Lee from Tenakill Middle School, Closter NJ
- 2nd prize: Bridging Culture and Religion: How Islam and Black History meet by Bareerah Binte Islam from Baytul-Iman Academy, Keansburg NJ
- 3rd prize: Pursuing Justice: From Civil Rights to Palestine by Mabshurah Naware from An-Noor Academy, Piscataway NJ
2024 Winners
- Grades 11 & 12
- 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: The plight of Palestinians and Blacks in apartheid regimes by Zainab Ijaz, Rising Star Academy
- Grades 9 & 10
- 1st prize: Racial Injustice in society and your civic responsibility By Dejalee Marmolejos An-Noor Academy (Dejalee Marmolejos, An-Noor Academy)
- 2nd prize: Racial Injustice and our civic duties by Aesha Badawi, Rising Star Academy
- 3rd prize: What are our responsibilities in the face of injustice? by Rufaida Hossain, An-Noor Academy
2023 Winners
- 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: Digital Racism by Ziyad Nagarwala of Princeton Junction, NJ
- 2nd prize: Seeds of Change by Marib Saeed of Jersey City, NJ
- 3rd prize: Why Our Communities Will Never Be Equal by Raaida Naser of Somerset, NJ
2022 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.