HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE PROJECT

This essay contest is part of the community remembrance work of the Harris County Community Remembrance Project coalition. EJI has documented at least 702 racial terror lynchings of African Americans in the State of George between 1865 and 1950, including at least 7 in Harris County. The coalition is working to memorialize these victims of racial terror lynching and to confront the difficult legacies of racial injustice.

EJI's broader Community Remembrance Project focuses on memorializing the more than 6,500 Black victims of racial terror lynching killed between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and World War II. Communities across our nation have been profoundly impacted by the legacies of the eras of enslavement, racial terror lynching, and segregation in ways that continue to influence our social, political, and personal practices and institutions. EJI and local communities are working together to help advance a more truthful understanding of this history. We believe that a deeper understanding about our nation’s history of racial injustice is important to addressing contemporary questions of social justice and equality, and each project helps our nation participate more fully in a sequential process of truth and reconciliation.

ESSAY CONTEST NEXT STEPS...

For Students Interested in Participating: We are so glad that you are considering participating in this essay contest! We hope it will be a meaningful experience for you. 

To get started, visit the Essay Contest Details page to explore what you might be interested in writing about in your essay. Students are encouraged to think about their topic, it’s connect to current day issues, and take time to review reliable resources. 

If you would like additional resources on how to prepare your essay, please see Tips for Students.

For Parents, Educators, and Community Groups: We strongly encourage parents, educators, and those who serve students in community organizations to partner with students and lend them support during their essay preparation. Offering assistance with researching, editing or listening to their essay prior to submission to offer feedback are great ways to strengthen students' writing skills and essay focus. For more information on how you and others can support students, please review our Resources for Parents, Schools, and Community Groups.

Local Student Essay Services

The Harris County Community Remembrance Project will be hosting 4 in-person mentoring sessions to help students with their essays. Please check back soon for additional details about dates and locations.