Black History Month Contest 2024: Meet the winners and finalists
We’re announcing the Flocabulary contest winners and finalists for Black History Month 2024! In honor of Black History Month, we invited students to be the researchers, lyricists, and rappers. Students from across the country selected under-recognized Black historical figures for their song lyrics. This year, we received over 450 submissions from teachers and parents on behalf of their students!
Want to bring relevant resources into your classroom? Use these lessons to explore Black historical figures and events year-round.
What is Flocabulary’s Black History Month contest?
This contest gives learners a platform to express themselves, share their voices, and showcase their creativity and skills. The Black History Month Rap Contest is part of a series of student contests hosted by Flocabulary and Nearpod that serve to uplift underrepresented histories and student voice. Flocabulary also hosts a student contest for Hispanic Heritage Month to highlight Hispanic history and voices. Each event inspires and connects students to the world around them and their identities and interests.
Ten finalists from elementary and secondary grades were asked to send a video of themselves performing their songs. The two winning students will have their lyrics turned into a Flocabulary lesson, be featured in the lesson video, and meet the rappers and artists contributing to the lesson.
Take a look at the creative and talented entries from our 2024 winners and finalists!
Black History Month Contest 2024: Meet the winners and finalists
Winners: Joi Courtney and Elijah Greene
Joi Courtney, 4th grader, from Alachua County Public Schools in Gainesville, FL
“Ida B. Wells. Educator, activist,
Ida B. Wells. Investigative journalist.
Ida B. Wells. Mention her name with the rest.
Ida B. Wells, she was rocking with the best”
Elijah Greene, 8th grader, from Seattle Public Schools in Seattle, WA
“Bass Reeves was a slave born in Paris, Texas.
At that time slavery was infectious.
Reeves was illiterate, unable to read or write.
But that doesn’t mean he was unable to fight.”
Finalists
Nacari McMeekin, 4th grade, from Alachua County Public Schools
“Garrett Morgan, had a vision so bright,
Invented the traffic light, shining like a starlight.
Red, yellow, green, the colors on the block,
Guiding cars safely, no need to stop.”
Michael Wang, 5th grade, from Milpitas Unified School District
“Offense! Defense! Rebounds! Shooting!
A single move would get the audience rooting!
Assist! Pass! Jump, and Dunk!
His power would put his opponents in a funk”
Brielle Cox, 5th grade, from Texas Online Preparatory School
“Alice Coachman born in Albany,
Her dream was to be an athlete
But being born into a segregated state
She had it real hard, yet she paved the way”
Vanessa Westphal, 6th grade, from Whitnall
“Amelia Boynton Robinson was a civil rights activist
She helped as an African American advocate
She risked her life for causes, big and small
She believed in freedom for not some but all”
Hayden Dibble-Valette, 6th grade, from Kalamazoo Public Schools
“Jacob Lawrence knew
He stood up tall, let the pain renew
The worth of all blacks
Racist beliefs were soon to collapse”
Lailah Hutton, 8th grade, from Burlington Township School District
“Alice Ball, born in eighteen ninety two
Eight thousand people saved by her, she knew just what to do
Hansen’s disease, otherwise known as leprosy
Alice Ball cured it, using her skills with chemistry”
Mark Mastin, 8th grade, from Burlington Township School District
“Revolutionized Jazz with new existence
Born in ’26, the legend was destined
To deliver only greatness, as a legal contestant
In the world of Jazz where he found his essence”
Laksmi Saefong, 8th Grade, from Seattle Public Schools
“Bass Reeves,
Three-thousand criminals brought down to their knees.
Bass Reeves,
You know his name ‘cause he’s the bane of all thieves”
Congratulations to all of the Flocabulary contest winners and finalists!
Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry. The learning shouldn’t stop when Black History Month ends; these themes and topics enrich cross-curricular learning all year round. Keep the conversation going by using the lessons linked on the contest page, or watch past winners’ and finalists’ rap videos.