Buford City Schools takes pride in organizing a range of events every February to honor Black History Month. Among these events is the annual Black History Month poetry contest, which aims to acknowledge and honor contributions made by African Americans to American history.

The fourth annual poetry contest was open to all students from fourth to 12th grades and was evaluated by a team of English language arts teachers from Buford City Schools. The winners were recognized during the board of education meeting Feb. 26. Each winner was presented a $25 gift card.

This years winning poems are Stand Proud and Together by Sophia Csider, 5th grade, Courageous King by Caitlin Seo, fourth grade, Black History Month by Eloise Jones, eighth grade, Martin Luther King by Hailey Jackson, sixth grade, Bess Coleman by RaeAnn Duracher, seventh grade and A questionable comment by Jasmine Olivia Walker, 12th grade.

Read poems below

Stand Proud and Together
By: Sophia Csider, 5th grade

Barriers are strong
But we are stronger
Let’s fight with grace and passion
No fists or violence
If we stand together
We will be a force that won’t break
If violence is right
I’m going to be wrong
Let’s break the barriers
Nobody will be alone in this fight
If we stand proud and together
Be strong and be graceful
As we fight for an equal world
Be proud of who you are
Fights for what’s right
Remember to stand proud and together

 

Courageous King
By: Caitlin Seo, fourth grade

“Freedom Freedom” I yell out
Let’s fight for freedom until the sun goes down
“Leader Leader” I yell out
You are our leader without a doubt
You are a leader brave and strong
You know what is right and wrong
You are a man that is peaceful
That is why I am thankful
You stepped in the ground none would’ve stepped
You helped people that wept
Oh great Martin Luther King When you said “I have a dream”
Your words reached my heart in every way
The feeling I felt right then is in my heart until this day

 

Black History Month
By: Eloise Jones, eighth grade

Nelson Mandela taught us to be brave.
To triumph over fear when things look grave.

Rosa Parks taught us to stand strong.
To stand up for right and not give into wrong.

Martin Luther King taught us to love each other.
To treat people (regardless of race) like a brother.

The teachers and protesters who taught us all
We can live in harmony, black and white, short and tall.

Together, they took down the giant called separation of race.
They stood hand in hand and stared at its face.

Shouted up to the giant, “We aren’t scared to march and to fight!
We will peacefully protest until wrongs are made right.”

And so they did, marched on Washington 250,000 wide.
Fought as brothers and sisters, bravely standing side by side.

They showed the world that civil rights could not wait.
They protested and marched against hearts filled with hate.

They made a huge impact, in parks and in schools.
People of all races now share water fountains and pools!

Now every February, brothers and sisters of all races
can proudly remember with smiles on their faces

The teachers and protesters who taught us all
We can live in harmony, black and white, short and tall.

 

Martin Luther King
By: Hailey Jackson, sixth grade

He had a dream
As cliche as it may seem
Most have a dream
But his was to see
To see a world with people who are free Not held down by a mere color
He said we should love each other
Separated into different schools
Not aloud in the same pools
Split apart
By color
Not by heart
Shamed for wanting
This separation was daunting Haunting
So to have a dream
Is not a cliche as it may seem
But to have a dream is a beautiful thing.

 

Bess Coleman
By: RaeAnn Duracher, seventh grade

In the sky, she soared,
Bessie, a woman so sublime
With wings of courage, she took flight
Breaking barriers, reaching a new height
Born in a time of segregation and hate
She defied the odds, refusing to wait
Determined and fearless, she earned her wings Inspiring generations with the joy that she brings
From humble beginnings, she rose above
A pioneer of aviation, a symbol of love
For the skies were her home, her passion aflame Bessie Coleman, forever remembered by name
Through storms and challenges, she never backed down Her spirit unbroken, her dream wearing a crown
So let us remember her legacy true
Bessie Coleman, the sky’s eternal view.

 

A questionable comment
By: Jasmine Olivia Walker, 12th grade

A questionable comment here
A joke about stealing there
Assumed Knowledge and
Premeditated Associations
It all brings me back,
It’s the moment I realize it
A program’s token
A friend to make people feel more worldly,
Or deeming themselves cool through my approval It all brings me back,
To how I’m black before I’m a person
Having to question intentions
While wanting to Make, and hold onto Connections
To lean into, push back or feign indifference What gives me the most advantage?
Then in that case I am no different
It’s not my problem
But it is my problem
I’m tired
I’m tired