Freedom Road Essay Contest

The Wallingford Public Library and the Wallingford Coalition for Unity invite you to participate in an essay contest combining United States History and English literature.

The purpose of the contest is twofold: to help raise awareness of the delicate balance of race relations in this country following the Civil War; and to examine what relevance this might have in our country today as we struggle to integrate many ethnicities into our society without confusing our neighbors with the terrorists we see on the nightly news.

Who May Enter: Any high school sophomore who lives in Wallingford.

Essay Topic: Students are asked to read the novel Freedom Road by Howard Fast; and then write an essay discussing the ways in which groups of people deal with one another, both post-Civil War and present-day, and how we might better move toward understanding in a global society.

Length: Essays should be approximately two typewritten pages (8 ½” X 11”) double-spaced.

Judging: The essays will be judged by a panel of community members who will look for clarity of expression and good writing skills, and, more importantly, a depth of insight into relations between human beings and a genuine desire to foster understanding.

Awards: The first-place winner will receive $500, the second-place winner will receive $300, and the third-place winner will receive $200. All winning essays will be published in the local newspaper.

Copies of Freedom Road are available at the library to students interested in entering this contest.

Please submit your essay and application by January 30, 2009 to:
Wallingford Public Library Information Desk
200 North Main Street
Wallingford, CT 06492

Call (203)265-6754 with any questions.