Student Essay Contest: Race & Stereotypes
Sponsored by the Library of Virginia, the Science Museum of Virginia, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch

DEADLINE EXTENDED! We've extended the deadline to enter until Feb. 29 at 5 p.m.

Prompt:

The Science Museum of Virginia is exploring the idea of race from scientific, historical, and cultural perspectives in the exhibition RACE: Are We So Different? Even small children notice that people look different. These differences have offered us strength, community and identity. However, these same differences have also been the historical basis for discrimination and oppression.

The annual African American Trailblazers program at the Library of Virginia honors powerful examples of individuals who refused to be defined by their circumstances. A 2012 honoree is Michael Blakey, a biological anthropologist and professor at the College of William & Mary. Dr. Blakey is also the lead scientist and director of the African Burial Ground in downtown New York City. His work provided valuable information about African Americans in New York during the colonial period.

Discrimination based on racial differences and stereotypes has happened in American society at many times during our history. What historical stereotypes do you think affect society today? What actions can you take to overcome stereotypes and discrimination?

Divisions
Elementary (Grades 4-5)
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
High School (Grades 9-12)

Awards in Each Division
First

1. $500 cash
2. Essay published in the Times-Dispatch, on TimesDispatch.com, and on the Library of Virginia Trailblazers portal
3. Science Museum field trip for class of winning student

Second

1. $100 cash
2. Essay published on TimesDispatch.com and Library of Virginia Trailblazers portal
3. Science Museum field trip for class of winning student

Third

1. $50 cash
2. Essay published on TimesDispatch.com and Library of Virginia Trailblazers portal
3. Science Museum field trip for class of winning student

How to Submit

1. All entries must be received NO LATER THAN FEB. 29, 2012, at 5:00 PM.
2. E-mail entries must be received NO LATER THAN FEB. 29, 2012, at 5:00 PM.
3. Mailed entries must be received NO LATER THAN FEB. 29, 2012, at 5:00 PM.
4. Entries will not be accepted via fax.

Mail or e-mail entries to:

Essay Contest
Richmond Times-Dispatch Marketing Dept.
PO Box 85333
Richmond, VA 23292
essays@timesdispatch.com

Essay Format and Contest Rules

1. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Open to students in grades 4-12 who are residents of the state of Virginia.
2. All entries must be original works that have not been published or submitted for publication anywhere else.
3. Entries must be received NO LATER THAN FEB. 29, 2012, at 5:00 PM.
4. No entry may be longer than 500 words.
5. Entries by contestants in the elementary category (grades 4-5) may be handwritten.
6. Entries by contestants in the middle- and high-school categories must be typed.
7. The title of the work, and the name of the writer, should be centered at the top of the first page of the entry.
8. At the end of each essay, please include the student's name, school, and grade; name of teacher or parent; phone number of teacher or parent; and e-mail address of teacher or parent.
9. All pages must be numbered.
10. Entries will not be returned.
11. The Library of Virginia, the Science Museum of Virginia, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch reserve the right to use the winners' (1st, 2nd, and 3rd places) names and entries for promotional purposes in all forms of media without notice, review, approval, or compensation, except where prohibited by law. This includes the posting of submissions for public viewing and voting on the Internet and the publication of winning essays in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
12. Submissions will be evaluated for originality and adherence to the contest theme. Grammatical conventions must be observed.
13. Judging decisions are final.
14. Winners will be notified the week of Mar. 19, 2012.
15. Winners will be invited to an event on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the Science Museum of Virginia to be recognized.
16. First-place essays from each division will be published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch as well as posted on TimesDispatch.com and the Library of Virginia's Trailblazers portal in March 2012.