Say it loud – create and be proud!

Here’s your theme: “Celebrating Our Roots, Shaping Our Future.”

OK, Shannon Pitone, the director of the Shaw University Writing and Tutorial Center, wants you to ponder that prompt and pen prose or produce pieces promoting the power of Black history.

“The purpose of this contest is to embrace and celebrate the legacies of the Black community by encouraging an exploration of the stories, traditions and influences that have shaped us,” Pitone said. “At the same time, the contest prompts contributors to think about how we, as individuals and a community, are actively shaping the narrative of our future.”

Submissions from students, staff and faculty will be showcased in a gallery in the Writing and Tutorial Center and published on its website. The center’s editorial team will review the submissions anonymously and judge them based on creativity, relevance to the theme and overall artistic or literary merit. Gift cards go to the top-three submissions. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. Feb. 23, 2024.

The writing categories are:

• historical narratives: Share a compelling essay about a significant event, person or movement in Black history that left a lasting impact. Essays previously written for a class are eligible.
• personal reflections: Reflect on your experiences, identity or aspirations as they relate to your connection with Black history and culture.
• poetry: Express the beauty, resilience and strength of the Black experience through poetry.

The art categories are:

• visual arts: Create a visually captivating piece celebrating Black history, culture or achievements. This could include paintings, drawings, collages, digital art or mixed media.
• photography: Capture a moment reflecting the essence of Black history, diversity or empowerment.
• sculpture or 3D art: Bring life to a piece of history through three-dimensional art symbolizing the spirit and heritage of the African American community.

When emailing submissions to writingcenter@shawu.edu:

• include a brief bio about yourself and description of your submission
• written submissions should be in .pdf or Word formats
• visual art submissions should be high-resolution images in .jpeg or .png formats
• pieces like paintings or sculptures should be dropped off in the Writing and Tutorial Center. Make arrangements by emailing writingcenter@shawu.edu to make arrangements