Enlighten America – B’nai B’rith Essay Contest for Middle School

Enlighten America is an annual Essay Contest for middle school students in metro Atlanta which encourages respect and tolerance of our friends’ and neighbors' diverse religious beliefs and racial/cultural backgrounds. Sponsored by the Achim/Gate City Lodge (Atlanta) of B'nai Brith International. Visit http://bit.ly/EnlightenAmerica-GA to learn how to enter the Enlighten America Essay Contest.

All entries must be received by Friday, April 12, 2019. Winners will be announced on May 5, 2019. Prizes of $250, $500 and $750 awarded to top winners. It is FREE to enter this essay contest and you do not need to be a member of B'nai Brith.

If you have questions, please contact Victor Anapolle at vanapolle@aol.com or 404-432-0626.

To participate, middle school students (grades 6-8) should write about the significance of the contest theme – respect for our diversity in race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation – by thinking about the issues of bigotry and prejudice, and how such issues have (or have not) been addressed in recent years.

We ask you to write about the meaning of a specific quote by George Washington in 1790. And how what he said then relates to our society today. As an alternative, you may select a quote attributed to another American president or a local community leader. You may also reflect on the Personal Pledge or use an event in your life or an event in history. Tell us why you chose the quote or event you selected, and its relevance to the issues of bigotry or prejudice.

At B’nai B’rith International (BBI), we encourage responsibility and mutual respect for the differences in all people. If we accept the premise that all people are special, we’re better able to accept the individual differences in each individual.