New York Times Names ETHS Student Runner-Up In Editorial Contest

EVANSTON, IL — An Evanston Township High School junior was named a runner-up in the Seventh Annual New York Times Editorial Contest last month, becoming the only Illinois student to be named among the judges' 63 top picks.

Anna Grant-Bolton, 17, wrote an editorial titled, "Redefining a Life: Changing the Conversation about Gun Violence." She argues violence in Black communities in urban areas is largely ignored, while the threat to suburban high schools is exaggerated.

If my school got shot up, it would make national news. Millions of Americans would mourn my death, and call for stricter gun laws. Policy and Change, the people would demand. There would be outrage and tears.

But we’ve grown deaf to the cries of the black community. White fear overshadows black trauma, making violence in inner cities invisible. The New York Times reports that the same weekend the El Paso and Dayton shootings consumed America’s attention, “52 [were] wounded by gunfire throughout Chicago.” Violence is an aberration in white communities but the default in the black inner city.

Our fundamental understanding of gun violence is racist. Vox reports that mass shootings account for “fewer than 1 percent of homicide victims.” According to The Washington Post, while the death tolls rose in Chicago due to inaction and indifference, the Parkland shooting catalyzed a national walkout. How many black kids must die before we care enough to make a change?

To be eligible for the honor, middle and high school students from age 10 to 19 submit persuasive essays under 450 words that cite the New York Times and other sources as evidence.

The event was judged by a mix of staff from the Times' opinion section, The Learning Network and a group of 19 educators and writers from around the country.

Essayists could choose any topic they wanted, as long as they offered an opinion and used the newspaper as a source at least once.

"Mass shootings are tragedies and should be treated as such," Grant-Bolton said. "But when we cease to care when black lives are lost, we become complicit in that violence."

Nine high school students and three middle schoolers were named winners. Sixteen high school students and five middle school students were named runners-up, while 24 high schoolers and six middle school students received honorable mentions.

Pieces from two other ETHS juniors — "Body and Soul" by Asher Baron and "Becoming Math People" by Noah Goldstein — were among essays from 106 other students listed as Round 3 finalists.