Carry On: Oratory Competition
Honoring the Speeches of the
Honorable John Lewis
John Lewis, congressman, student leader, and freedom rider, depended on the power of words to promote peace, justice, and change from childhood until he passed away in 2020. Lewis chose words despite the violence enacted upon his body. His speeches have inspired generations of people to choose justice and morality over violence and oppression.
Inspired by those words, students will use their voices to bring truth to power in a contemporary setting. As an oratorical competition, students will gain confidence in public speaking, learn more deeply about nonviolent civil rights actions, and honor the legacy of John Lewis.
This competition is for Prince George’s County Public Schools middle and high school students.
Prizes for students in middle school and high school groups are:
1st - $500; 2nd - $300; 3rd - $150; 4th - $100
Additionally, all placing competitors will receive two tickets to see Mosaic Theatre’s Young John Lewis, a musical by Psalmayene 24.
Submission Deadline: January 30, 2026 • 11:59 PM
Performance: February 21, 2026 • 11:00 AM
at Joe’s Movement Emporium
INSTRUCTIONS:
Students should choose from one of the following speeches to memorize for the competition. Choose a section of the speech that is less than 5 minutes long.
Record yourself reciting the speech. Use your own oratorical voice. You do not need to imitate John Lewis. Bring your own beliefs, feelings, and interpretation to the words of John Lewis.
Submit the recording via the application form. The full application must be submitted for consideration. If you have trouble uploading, please contact Camille Kashaka at camille@joesmovement.org.
