OUSD Celebrates 2024 Winners of the Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest
CELEBRATING THE LEGACY
-In Honor of Dr. Maya Angelou and Mr. Guy Johnson
2024 DR. MAYA ANGELOU ESSAY WRITING CONTEST
“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it.” -Dr. Maya Angelou
The Estate of Literacy Advocate Mr. Guy Johnson continues to support significant scholarship awards for Oakland students and announces fifth year of student essay awards.
Oakland –
Now in its fifth year in Oakland, the Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest is a contest that students are eager to take part in, and is one which brings out the best in their writing. A hallmark of the contest is the donor’s requirement that students receive support in editing and revising essays. Every student who enters has the opportunity to have their work selected for publication in an upcoming anthology.
This year’s award-winning essays are written with courage, authenticity, and left a memorable impact on our esteemed judges. The voices and stories of Oakland youth will be heard in our community and beyond. Many of our recipients, including those who did not win major awards, will be published in an anthology released this fall.
Since the contest’s inception in 2020, the Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest has awarded over $50,000 to the top essayists. More than thirty-five Oakland scholars have received significant awards. This fall, approximately fifty young authors will be featured in our upcoming anthology, entitled, “We Must Not Be Defeated”. It is not possible to count the number of generous volunteers at various schools who have dedicated countless hours to support our young people in their pursuit of excellence in writing. Teachers, administrators, counselors, custodians, administrative assistants, parents, college and career specialists, community volunteers: what is clear is that the Oakland village has reached out with full measure to encourage student voice In writing.
This is exactly what contest founder Guy Johnson, author, long-time literacy advocate and son of Dr. Angelou wanted for young people in his hometown, Oakland, California and beyond. An inspirational guest speaker, Mr. Johnson spent nearly fifteen years coming to the high school English classes of veteran teacher, Marsha Rhynes. He facilitated powerful in-class writing seminars, encouraged students to write for publication, and served as an integral part of the Write to Live Project which gifts young people with books they can “keep and own.” Over the years, Mr. Johnson was a guest speaker for thousands of OUSD students who attended these literacy-based field trips.
Mr. Guy Johnson launched the Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest in honor of his mother to support excellence in writing for our youth. He initially funded the contest with his personal money, personally helped guide students through the editing process, and even participated in senior capstone presentations as a judge. Like his iconic mother, Mr. Johnson spent many years supporting written anthologies and literacy projects for underserved students.
Guy Johnson’s inspirational message of hope and opportunity for our children was always conveyed with quiet dignity and deflection of personal attention. The estate of Mr. Johnson, who transitioned in February of 2022, continues to move Mr. Johnson’s vision onward for supporting excellence in student writing.
Ms. Thamiah Tutt is the President and CEO of the Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation. Ms. Thamiah Tutt confirmed, “On the way to reaching their goals, we know that every student will need compassion, understanding, and support. This essay contest is a journey. It is meant to help our youth to uncover the extent of their gifts and abilities. Mr. Johnson was clear: students cannot reach this goal without the support and encouragement of educators and a community that believes in them and are prepared to uplift their efforts.”
Superintendent Johnson-Trammell affirms Mr. Johnson’s determination to support literacy. “Every time I had the pleasure to work with Mr. Johnson, his passion for supporting our students and promoting powerful writing was palpable. His presence was an integral part of so many of our students’ educational experiences, and our students appreciate the essay contest he created in his mother’s honor. We pledge to carry on his legacy of improving literacy outcomes, and giving our students the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century.”
“There were young people who lost their lives to violence in the streets during the years when Mr. Johnson volunteered in my classes,” Ms. Rhynes said. “It brought him to tears and made him groan each time he realized another life was lost. He has said that it was the sound of gunfire outside a school that became the catalyst for this essay contest. He was determined to do something more, something tangible, something the children would remember. That is exactly what has happened with this contest. Each year, we see powerfully written essays that could only come from the hearts of those who have lived the stories.”
Ms. Rhynes, who is the Education and Literacy Consultant for the contest said, “Frontloading literacy is critical to the lives and future of our students, especially now with political changes that mean our students must find ways to tell their own deeply moving stories for college admission.” Rhynes, and Education and Cultural Humility Consultant Betsye Steele want to publicly thank the OUSD teachers who have supported the writing of their students. Rhynes and Steele are moving forward with a Master Class Teacher Collaboration that mirrors the work of the collective during the many years Mr. Johnson volunteered in Oakland Public Schools.
Ms. Steele encourages people to embrace the student stories in this year’s essay contest as well as in the anthology. “As you read the scholars’ personal narratives, we challenge you to open yourselves to the richness of their hearts, their souls and their spirits. By courageously giving you a glimpse of their life experiences, they have graciously given you a piece of themselves. And by reading their stories, you in return, will be giving them a piece of yourself; your heart, your soul, and your spirit.”
In his own words, Mr. Johnson insisted, “This is a fight that cannot be ignored; there is work to be done and many battles to be won.”
FIRST PLACE:
“I Will Not Be Defeated”
By Delph Jean, Jr.
Dewey Academy
Peralta College
This year’s 1st Place winner of the Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest wrote an essay that united the judges in selecting his essay as the embodiment of courage and fortitude of character. Quite simply, he refuses to be defeated by life’s obstacles.
Here is an excerpt from his award winning essay:
“In many ways, I’m a regular teenager. I am eighteen years old. I’m a senior at Dewey Academy. I’m a big brother. I like video games, anime books, and sports. I’m about to graduate. I’m also a leader in the Oakland Public Safety Youth Leadership council, which was created to give youth a chance to have their voices heard around public safety. I am Haitian-American, I move around a lot, but I currently live in East Oakland.
One thing that makes me different from most teens is all of the adversity that I have been through. I am a survivor. There have been a lot of times when I have felt like I have been given more than I could handle, more than what was fair, but I am unique because I never give up. I know I can’t because I have to be a good example for my little brothers and community…
Despite all of the things that I have been through and am still going through- housing instability, poverty, racism, prejudice, I still get up every day and strive to be a good role model and example. Being a good role model to me means that I work hard.
Delph is committed to caring for his siblings in every way possible; helping them with homework, basic needs, even play matters to him.
“It can be hard sometimes to be playful when there is so much that is wrong, but I try to always make sure that they have fun even when things are hard. I make sure that they do their schoolwork, and I do homework with them every day. I am trying to give my brothers a good upbringing and chance at life. This means that I have to overcome, every day of my life, and by doing so, I help not only myself but also my brothers and my community.”
The judges were also impressed Delph Jean, Jr. is the epitome of a young person making a positive difference in his community:
I am involved in two internships that help my community. Planting Justice, which is an organization that helps formerly incarcerated people and works in schools planting healthy food. I am also a part of the Oakland Public Safety Youth Leadership Council. We are working on helping youth voices be heard at higher points of power within the city of Oakland. We are on hiring panels for the police department, and try to uplift youth voices. We do this because we are hoping that if youth voices are heard then there will be less conflict between police and the communities in Oakland. I am working to make Oakland better for myself, my brothers, and my community.
I will not be defeated.”
SECOND PLACE
“Ba’ n tea’tun”
By Osmary Aguilar Cinto
Berkeley City College
Osmary Aguilar Cinto
Osmary’s powerful story begins in Guatemala where she heard the words “Ba’ n tea’tun” which means “you can do it” in her native language Mam. She was just six years old, but her parents began each day saying these words to her. Now a college-bound high school graduate, Osmary says, “God has taught me that the greatest gift is that we can love ourselves so much that there is no defeat.”
“Every day I was defeated by the idea of going to school, because at that age I didn’t understand my teacher or classmates. In Guatemala, they speak only Spanish in school. My parents and I understood and spoke only Mam. “School is not important,” I thought. School can’t be important because it is a place where my classmates tell me I am different because I don’t speak the same language. They stare at me. Up to today, I don’t like it when being stared at. I was motivated to go each day only because I think it would help my parents.”
Finally, when I went to the third grade, I understood that going to school was valuable and important. I felt more comfortable and confident learning Spanish. Even if I didn’t say things right at first, I know I was able to try again. I believed that I could overcome difficult things. In Guatemala, you have to pay for school. When I finished tercer básico (this is like the last year of middle school), we ran out of money. I couldn’t go to diversificado (this is like high school) because the school was too far away. Most people have to have money to send their child away to the city for school, pay for rent, food, school supplies and school. It was simply impossible for me.
…”When I was ten years old, my classmates told me that I was worthless, that I could never be someone in life, that I was very stupid and all those bad things. I have learned to ignore them because I know that my life is worth it and women can be successful. I may feel defeated sometimes, but I will be able to overcome whatever challenge. God has taught me that the greatest gift is that we can love ourselves so much that there is no defeat. I know the difficulties that most Latinos face today is to have stable finances. But I believe that the most valuable thing in this world is education. That is why I will fight to be able to study and fight so my community can learn. I will not give up because I know that life is hard but with effort and dedication, everything is possible.”
Third Place
“Rhythms Of Hope “
My Journey Through Music and Adversity
By William Phillips, 12th Grade
Third Place
Skyline High School
California State University, Hayward
Excerpts from Will’s award winning essay takes us on a journey where he discovers the “transformative power of music in the “the vibrant tapestry” of his community:
“In the bustling streets of East Oakland, where the rhythm of life echoes with both resilience and defiance, I found myself navigating a path fraught with challenges, yet illuminated by the flicker of hope. From the tender age of fourteen, the contours of my journey were shaped by the tumultuous waves of adversity that crashed upon the shores of my existence.
It began with the abrupt departure of my father, whose absence left an indelible void in the fabric of our family. His exit, shrouded in silence and unresolved tensions, marked the onset of a period of profound upheaval and uncertainty. No longer did the familiar sound of his laughter resonate through the walls of our home, replaced instead by the hollow echoes of absence…
Just as I began to acclimate to the absence of one pillar of support, fate dealt yet another blow with the passing of my beloved grandmother. In her, I found solace, guidance, and unconditional love, a beacon of light in the darkness of my adolescence. Her departure left me adrift in a sea of grief, grappling with the weight of loss and longing for the warmth of her embrace.
Amidst the chaos of my internal turmoil, the external landscape of East Oakland
provided both sanctuary and a stage for discovery. It was within the vibrant tapestry of this community that I discovered the transformative power of music—a force that transcended the boundaries of language and spoke to the depths of my soul. From the pulsating rhythms of hip-hop to the soulful melodies of jazz, the sounds of Oakland became the soundtrack of my existence, offering solace in moments of despair and inspiration in times of doubt…
Will’s essay ends with a commitment to resilience and hope for his community:
…As I prepare to turn the page on this chapter of my journey, as I move on to obtain higher education, to learning all that I can in order to make a difference in this world, I do so with a heart filled with gratitude and a spirit fortified by resilience. For no matter what the future may hold, I know that I am not alone. With the support of my community and the guiding light of hope, I am confident that I will continue to navigate life’s challenges with courage, grace, and unwavering determination.”
“No Limits in Science”
HONORABLE MENTION
Kayleaa Moore
Coliseum Prep Academy
Boston University
Kayleaa Moore, a first generation student majoring in STEM despite the obstacles of racism, sexism, and stereotyping wrote:
“I've always known that I wanted to study science. I am fascinated by the way animals evolve and the incredible variety among them. As a kid, going out and exploring my grandma's backyard was an adventure and the excitement will always stick with me. She lived in Hayward most of my childhood and her house was one of my favorite spots. She had a big green grassy area in her backyard where I could investigate the types of animals and insects I would find. However, growing up in a poor, densely urban area of Oakland, there was little greenery and animal wildlife to study and see. The few trees had no leaves and the only animals around were pigeons, seagulls, and stray dogs and cats who roamed the streets.
Growing up as a black woman in an urban neighborhood is a difficult experience, marked by racism and the effects of sexism, which both erode a sense of self-worth and identity. My mother was a single parent with four children and I felt pressured to follow in the mold of society's low expectations that women of color have children, cook, and clean, rather than pursue an education and groundbreaking career. My dreams and aspirations were not taken seriously and I felt like I would be criticized and shamed if having children was not my main ambition.
Institutions make it so black girls like me believe we are not good enough. Our black hairstyles are deemed “unprofessional” in workplaces; harmful stereotypes and microaggressions make us feel uneasy in these work fields. I have been told that my dreadlocks and the way I style them are inappropriate for my career field and that the way I speak is “too ghetto” to become a respected researcher…
People express shock that I'm majoring in a branch of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field. They comment how I don't “look like” I would like science. Being a woman and being black means there will be an endless stream of snarky comments from people telling us that we will never be good enough. If we dare to question these assumptions and low expectations, we are labeled as “too mean,” “too rude,” “too weird,” or simply delusional. In this world, women of color have to work three times harder than white women and five times harder than white men to succeed.
I know that I have made a lasting impact in my community and I will be remembered for the positive changes. I believe that even in my youth, I have impacted many lives of both older and younger generations. As a first-generation college student, I will be traveling and living outside of the Bay Area for the first time to attend my dream college in Massachusetts. I know that the people who have believed in me and shaped me into the person I am today will be with me as I continue my journey. I know they won't forget me because I will never forget what they have done for me.”
HONORABLE MENTION
“Rising Above Educational Inequity: I Will Not Be Defeated”
DAIJHA TEAGUE
Oakland High School
Daijha Teague is committed to breaking barriers as a young black woman pursuing a career majoring in Science Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics fields (STEAM)…
Here is an excerpt from her essay:
…”The career path I chose is exciting because it is constantly evolving. There is always a barrier to break through, or a problem to tackle. The thrill of finding long-lasting solutions to complex problems that impact our world is what drives me. Along with this, I love to learn. This field provides opportunities to continuously learn and adapt. Every project in this field is a chance for me to sharpen my skills and deepen my knowledge. I hope to have a huge impact in the world. My work goal is to contribute to projects that advance technology while simultaneously raising the standard of living for people everywhere, I want my work to make a positive difference, especially in my community.
…I support women’s empowerment and practice it in my day-to-day life, I have participated in programs that focus specifically on women’s empowerment. The first program was a club created by two teachers and an assistant principal at my school. The program is called Sisterhood and, in this club, we worked on building sisterhood as black women, building and solidifying our love for ourselves, networking and skills that will help us in the future. I participated in the Sisterhood the whole school year during my sophomore, junior, and senior year and my experience in this club was wonderful as everything as everything we did taught me something new, and also help me build connections.
Renowned author Dr. Maya Angelou has said, “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” These are words I embrace emphatically on a daily basis.
We all fall, we all face defeat, we feel discouraged and face isolation. Without understanding the importance of the life lessons we acquire when we face and move past these obstacles, how will we ever know our true strength or capacity? I know that, especially as a black woman with high standards for academic excellence, I will be challenged by others. Just as I learned in my middle school days, I will need to reach out to others for help and have the courage to do so. There will be times when life itself will be the challenge I must face. I will face it all with courage, determination, and I know that I will not be defeated.”
ELEVENTH GRADE WINNER
First Place, Oren Frieson
Independent Study, Sojourner Truth
Essay Entitled, “I am Oren”
Oren Frieson knows the power of having just one person who cares enough to make a difference in the life of a student. Imagine what would happen if everyone at a child’s school all worked together and demonstrated this concern for every student. Oren’s personal narrative essay reminds us of life lessons that change the trajectory of our lives.
Here are excerpts from his award-winning essay:
“The preschool was adjacent to the elementary school I attended. This was the beginning of my profiling. I was admitted to kindergarten and I couldn’t keep up, but no one seemed to notice. It took me a long time to complete my work, but no one seemed to notice that, either. I sat alone at school and everywhere else, and no one seemed to notice. I was being called “dumb”. I was teased relentlessly and hit by other students, but no one noticed. When I started trying to get noticed, I was labeled as “bad”, a “problem student”.
All I wanted was help.
This essay is about me. It is about me and all the things I have gone through as a student. I was bullied, stigmatized, unseen, and lonely, affecting my health and self-esteem. Me, an all-around good guy, but guys like me are stigmatized, held back, unseen, and bullied. Yes, people like me, the “Big O” , the undefeated Oakland Athletic League Wrestling Champion of 2025. It doesn’t matter if you are a good person; guys like me are the target of bullying on a daily basis. We live in quiet desperation, misunderstood, our pain unrecognized, our hearts and actions misunderstood. Who knows why one person bullies another? Who can see into the heart of either the bully or the victim of harassment? Tne real problem is that it is allowed to continue. Why is it that no one sees another’s pain?
Even in preschool, when it first started, there was a school director who wanted to kick me out of preschool for behavior problems, saying I wasn’t disciplined enough. She would tell my grandmother things that I was too young to defend, but thank GOD for a Grandmother who saw me. She knew who I was and didn’t let that happen. She found a therapeutic nursery school which I attended half day and my preschool the other half day and I was able to graduate from both.
Never let anyone make you ashamed regardless of race, color, status, sexual preferences, or disabilities. You are who you supposed to be, and only you can alter, downgrade or upgrade yourself. This is and should be in your power, no one else's. ‘You can’t help who you love, but you can help how you love Yourself.’
“ Never let anyone make you ashamed regardless of race, color, status, sexual preferences, or disabilities. You are who you are supposed to be, and only you can alter, downgrade or upgrade yourself. This is and should be in your power, no one else's. “You can’t help who you love, but you can help how you love yourself.”
Love yourself, be yourself. Know yourself. I know me.
I am Oren.”
HONORABLE MENTION, Eleventh Grade
“Living in Deep East Oakland”
Brianna Vega
Castlemont High School
Brianna Vega describes herself as a “girl living in “Deep East Oakland”. She shares her experiences with stereotyping due to her gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic background that made her feel voiceless. Her essay is a testament determination to refuse to allow challenges to define or limit her potential.
As a young girl living in “Deep East Oakland”, I've faced stereotyping due to my gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic background. These experiences made me feel voiceless in my community, however, through my determination, I have not allowed these challenges to define me or limit my potential. Young people like me can inspire change and break down barriers.
When I was younger, I often felt stereotyped because of my ethnicity. People would assume that I could not speak English or that I was a thief. When I reflect on these experiences, I feel a mix of emotions, I feel frustrated and determined; My frustration at the unfair assumption made about me because of my ethnicity but I also feel a sense of determination to prove them wrong.
When faced with these stereotypes I refuse to let them define me. Instead, I think about my heritage and embrace it. I remember one particular instance where a substitute in my English class made a derogatory remark about my ethnicity assuming I do not speak or understand English. I sat there in silence for a little bit just staring at him. I confidently responded to him in perfect English catching him off guard and he was embarrassed. He began apologizing over and over and then proceeded to talk to me about that day's work. It was definitely a small win that fueled my determination to continue knocking down stereotypes.
Brianna concludes her essay with a message for young people in her community and beyond:
…The resilience and determination can send a very powerful message that despite facing stereotypes they are more than capable of achieving their dreams. Their success becomes a hotspot for inspiration and hope, inspiration for others who may be facing the same issue, also showing them they are not alone. A small amount of empowerment can create a stronger sense of unity within the community. When young people don't allow themselves to be defined by their difficulties, they don't only transform their own lives but also the well-being of their community.”
The Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation congratulates each of our young authors in Oakland, California. You have written and shared your personal stories with courage and fortitude.
In the words of Mr. Guy Johnson, “Bravo”.
“Excerpt from Continue”
©2016
Dr. Maya Angelou
My wish for you
Is that you continue
Continue
To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness
Continue
To allow humor to lighten the burden
Of your tender heart
Continue
In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the peals of your laughter
Continue
To let your eloquence
Elevate the people to heights
They had only imagined
Continue
To remind the people that
Each is as good as the other
And that no one is beneath
Nor above you
Continue
To remember your own young years
And look with favor upon the lost
And the least and the lonely
Continue
To put the mantle of your protection
Around the bodies of
The young and defenseless
Continue
To take the hand of the despised
And diseased and walk proudly with them
In the high street
Some might see you and
Be encouraged to do likewise
Continue
To plant a public kiss of concern
On the cheek of the sick
And the aged and infirm
And count that as a
Natural action to be expected
Continue
To let gratitude be the pillow
Upon which you kneel to
Say your nightly prayer
And let faith be the bridge
You build to overcome evil
And welcome good
Continue
To ignore no vision
Which comes to enlarge your range
And increase your spirit
Continue
To dare to love deeply
And risk everything
For the good thing
Continue
To float
Happily in the sea of infinite substance
Which set aside riches for you
Before you had a name
Continue
And by doing so
You and your work
Will be able to continue
Eternally
Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation (DMAF) is a 501(c)(3) exempt organization and a California nonprofit public benefit corporation.
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