Three Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School students were the winners of Ase Production’s Jubilee SPEAKS! Juneteenth Oratorical Essay Contest.
Held for the second year, the essay contest put on by Juanta Griffin – a community centered Oak Parker and executive director of Ase Productions – is a way to help youth find and use their voices, Griffin said.
“Students spent time crafting their phenomenal speeches to make sure that they responded to the prompt ‘what Black Liberation means to them as a middle school student living in the year 2025,’ “ SAID Sarah Perros, Brooks Middle School speech, drama and debate teacher. Perros who worked with the students.
Eighth graders Neneifeoma Nwafo and Ivan Wells tied for first place and received $150. Eighth grader Paul Gage won second place and received $75.
“These students have all taken Speech, Drama and Debate at Gwendolyn Brooks,” Perros said. “Each speech was crafted with such love and with such dedication to the subject matter as well as to each student’s own individuality.”
The winners also shared their essays with the community at Oak Park’s Juneteenth flag raising event,” Griffin said.
That event took place June 11 in the Village Hall courtyard, 123 Madison St. The ceremony featured speakers, live performances, food and more.
A community cookout followed June 14, with BBQ from Robinson’s Ribs and Q BBQ, vegan options from Chicago Style Vegan, soul food from Passion Eats Catering, hot dogs and hamburgers from Don’t Forget Your Lunchbox, and ice cream from Scream.
Main stage performers during the cookout included the Jesse White Tumblers, Kuumba Kids Cultural Showcase, JKed, soul and funk music from the Jason Grant Experience, and crowd favorites from DJ Cam Steele.
Griffin has been hosting village-wide Juneteenth celebrations with Anthony Clark for seven years.
“Anthony and I kicked all of this off and there is a village resolution acknowledging our work,” Griffin said. “I co-wrote the first Juneteenth proclamation with then Clerk Vicki Scaman (Oak Park’s current village president). This is the first year that Anthony won’t be co-hosting and the third year that the village is hosting the community cookout officially.”
Perros shared her thoughts on the importance of commemorating Juneteenth.
“It is so important to celebrate Juneteenth because it reminds us that we all must continue to work for a brighter future for us and for our children and for our children’s children,” Perros said.
Three young voices on the meaning of Juneteenth
Here are three speeches crafted by students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in Oak Park. They each focus on Juneteenth and are framed by a prompt from the project’s organizers. “What does Black Liberation mean to you as a middle school student in 2025?”
‘When I use my words, I am able to create positive change.’
By Nene Nwafo
We, as human beings, are all afraid of things. If you put a child with a fear of the dark in a dark room and tell them, “There is nothing there,” it will not make the room any brighter.
Just because you cannot see what I am afraid of, does not mean that you, or anyone else can diminish that fear. I am the only one who can decide how “real” it is.
We as a people celebrate the freedom that we now have and look back on the horrors that once were, but seldom do we put ourselves in another’s shoes to experience what happened.
Juneteenth should be celebrated not only to acknowledge those who fell victim to slavery, the hundreds who felt exiled in their own land, but go deeper than that. That is my hope. To relive the fears and the faith and do anything we can to mend those wounds is to create a positive change.
The Juneteenth holiday is proof that we have made progress, most people already celebrate it. We are at the home stretch, all we need is the last few people, a last little push until marginalized groups no longer have to be called “marginalized.”
I have faith and trust that when we all recognize and celebrate Juneteenth, then we can realize our fears together. This is when we all can finally and truly be equals. For me, I believe that celebrating Juneteenth is so important because we are able to apply the knowledge that we have learned in school and make it applicable to our everyday lives.
My own contribution to celebrating Juneteenth is through speaking, spreading awareness about what I feel is important. I believe that when I use my words, I am able to create positive change. I know that I will continue to practice this throughout my entire life. I hope my words ring true to you today, and I hope they will stay with you for years to come. Thank you.
‘It is still there written in invisible ink.’
By Paul Gage
Dive into the things you wish could change in our country: Racism.
(Pause to think prior to speaking) (In a heartfelt manner) Every person is unique, yet many are defined by labels and stereotypes they never chose. These labels can shape lives in profound ways. while some labels and stereotypes have become frowned upon.
It is still there written in invisible ink, it’s still there in the shadows. (Pause…beginning to get upset) Racism is not a new issue and IS an issue. (Annoyed) So why do these labels persist? Why don’t people want to adapt? Is it because they don’t want to? Because they don’t understand change or want it; Or is it because they are sacred? (Pause)
Racism has been present in the U.S. for a while and while we have “improved” (Pause), there is still a lot of work to be done before the world is a safe place for everyone regardless of the color of their skin. (Back to heartfelt tone)
Some people have already decided on how they want to view the world if you think one thing your whole life and suddenly the world is telling you another thing that can be hard for some people and it can be scary. (With power) However in order for REAL change to occur in the world we must all commit to stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing open-mindedness.
(Sits down next to “Mr. Fountain.”)
(Beat). Change can be scary (beat) but it also can be necessary. (Pause) Mr. Fountain, remember that poem you used to tell me by Gil-Scott? “Now more than ever, All the family must be together. Every brother, everywhere, feels the time is in the air. Common blood flows through common veins, and the common eyes all see the same. Now more than ever, all the family must be together.” (Smiling)
You told me that to remind me that we have to stick together because we are all human. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to remember our history and try every day, with untiring haste to make the world a more equal place for all.
This is why all must celebrate Juneteenth. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of the enslaved people and recognizes the ongoing fight for racial equity. I know that as I head into my future, I want to continue to use my words for good. We all must learn how to work together, to speak out, but also to truly listen to one another.
Juneteenth shows me what is possible for me.’
By Ivan Wells
We are here to celebrate an important day today.
We should all celebrate Juneteenth for three reasons. First, Juneteenth celebrates the people who fought for a better future not just for themselves but for their families and descendants. These people made the change they wanted to see in this world and their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Although we still face challenges and prejudice today, we have to remember the future that our ancestors fought and died for and continue to try to make a positive change. Our ancestors fought for what was right, teaching us that we should never be afraid to speak out against hate and injustice. They fought for freedom and they fought for us.
Second reason: We would not have common everyday items that we all use on a daily basis. Without the liberation of African Americans, we would not have had such essential items including ironing boards, sprinkler systems, and/or or the very first home security system. All of these important inventions by African Americans were innovative and ahead of their time thus making life easier for all people.
The third reason, but definitely not the last. Just as we all celebrate the Fourth of July, we MUST all celebrate Juneteenth. Think about it this way. The Fourth of July is a large celebration because of the fact that America won its independence from Britain and we all celebrate every year as a national holiday.
The same is true for Juneteenth. We are at the 160th anniversary of The Liberation of the African American being freed from their oppressors and living life not as objects but as citizens of a country that formerly enslaved them. This is a powerful day that we ALL must celebrate.
I believe as a 13-year-old, I celebrate Juneteenth because it shows me what is possible for me. It shows me that I should not be afraid to face any challenge that life may bring, and celebrating Juneteenth encourages me to never stop fighting for what I believe in.