Celebrating Our Student Authors (and their favorite books!)
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ach year KIPP Newark invites students from across our schools to submit entries to our Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Contest. We’re always blown away by their work, and this year’s entries were no exception. And because we know your household might be seeking great summer reads, we’ve asked each student author to share their favorite books with you. Dive into their work below!
Kids Who Look Like Me Speech BY CARTER A NDER SON 4th Grade, KIPP SPARK Academy
The fight for racial equity and social injustice is the responsibility of kids who look like me. It is kids who look like me who will bring change to the world. I have a dream that kids who look like me will one day be able to dream, dream big! I have a dream that kids who look like me will one day be able to walk the streets with a hoodie and a pack of skittles—and not be gunned This speech was down like Trayvon Martin. inspired by Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ and the Black Lives Matter movement.
I have a dream that kids who look like me will be able to play outside of the recreation center with a toy gun and not be shot like Tamir Rice. I have a dream that one day kids who look
like me won’t have their homes raided like Breonna Taylor. I have a dream that one day kids who look like me won’t be wrestled to the ground with a knee on their neck begging to live like George Floyd. I have a dream that kids who look like me will one day protest, march, organize and demand that justice be served. One day, one day soon, kids who look like me will become Teachers, Military Personnel, Doctors, Scientist, Judges, Police Officers, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs, Chefs, Athletes, Actors, Humanitarians, Engineers, and President without the fear of being judged or mistreated because of the color of their skin. Thank you.
Carter’s Book Recommendations: I recommend the Captain Underpants series and the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey. I like his books, because he makes his characters funny and authentic— especially the character AJ in Captain Underpants. I love how AJ sounds like a real person you might meet! I also like any book by author Dan Gutman. 20
