Oratorical Contest

The Charles E. Williams II Advanced Leadership Institute is sponsoring an Oratorical Contest for the 21st Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference. Leaders are taking steps towards redefining the preconceived notions of what a leader looks like, the qualities possessed by them, and the way they effectively reach their followers.

Affirmative action was first introduced in 1965 with an intent to positively increase the representation of minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded.  Many Americans believe affirmative action has become “reverse discriminations and unwarranted preferences”, as well as to fill quotas, statistics reveal that:

1. There are 928, 023 whites holding Bachelors degrees, and 107, 891 blacks holding Bachelors degrees; There are 317, 999 whites holding Master’s degrees, while 35, 625 blacks hold Master’s degrees
2. Over the following years since affirmative action has been implemented Black engineers have increased from 1.1% to 5.5%, and Lawyers and judges 1.2% to 5.1%. However, the unemployment rate for black adults was twice that of whites and is still unchanged
3. Only 6.7% whites have lower grades than 50% blacks in law school. The average black law students grades are dramatically lower and only 58% black students actually graduate and become lawyers while 84% white students actually graduate and become lawyers

One objective of the Oratorical Contest is to provide participants of A.L.I. an opportunity to express their view concerning the above data. As leaders, your opinions and contributions are important and are needed for making positive progress.

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Contest Rules and Guidelines:

Please select only one or two of the above facts. Prepare your presentation to reflect your support or opposition for affirmative action and the effects it has had on the African American community in regards to education and professions.

Interested persons are required to send notification to Kim Hill of their desire to participate in the contest prior to December 5, 2008. There will be a prescreening of participants Friday, January 23, 2009, evening prior to the conference entertainment.

Participants should bring to the prescreening the following:

• A maximum of 10 note cards
• Five copies of their speech outline
• A list of references used in the speech

Participants must submit a packet in a manila folder upon arrival containing: their note cards, 5 copies of their speech, and a list of references. The speech should be 6 to 9 minutes. Participants will be judged on their creativity, content, research, and overall presentation. Plagiarism is grounds for expulsion from the contest. Please site your sources both in your outline and orally.

The top THREE participants will deliver their speeches during the Oratorical Contest. Upon arrival each participant will be given a W-9 form, which must be turned back in before the closing banquet Saturday night, this is required in order for the winner to receive their scholarship. The winner will receive a $500.00 scholarship award, a trophy, and the honor of introducing the keynote speaker at the closing banquet.

Please contact, Kim Hill, at Kim Hill or 979-845-4565 if you have any questions.