FOURTH GRADER MONTOIA MURRAY WINS FIRST PLACE AT THE MLK ORATORY COMPETITION

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was truly a phenomenal orator whose speeches left millions impassioned to bring about change through his words. The Houston Law firm, Foley & Lardner LLP, created a yearly competition to keep that legacy alive. This year’s 28th Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition was truly filled with amazing passion and talent; however, first-place honors went to fourth grader, Montoia Murray from HISD’s Blackshear Elementary School. According to the law firm’s website, “each year, fourth- and fifth-grade students from Dallas, Houston, and Chicago ISD elementary schools are invited to compose and present original three-to-five-minute speeches, incorporating ideals from Dr. King’s teachings, to address a pre-selected topic. The students’ speeches celebrate Dr. King’s enduring messages and demonstrate how his words continue to impact and inspire their lives.” The topic for this year’s competition was,& “How would Dr. King reflect on the 60 years since his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech?” And of course, Montoia nailed it, as she grabbed first place, taking us all on a journey that Dr. King himself would unquestionably approve. “If Dr. King could reflect on the 60 years since his ‘I Have a Dream speech,’ Martin’s reflection would be a confession of...