Community Corner
Remembering Malcolm X
Local bookstore and bistro, Frank Talk, celebrates Black History Month with a youth essay contest.
A local bookstore and bistro is celebrating Black History Month in an interesting way. Frank Talk, located on Shrewsbury Avenue in Red Bank, is hosting a children’s essay contest to promote awareness and education on the topic.
The contest, entitled Never Forget: Remembering Malcolm X, poses the question: do you have the courage to be a leader? The essay must be between 250 and 500 words, and is open to all youth. Gilda Rogers, the owner of Frank Talk, provides some prompts to get children started. These questions include involvement in community service work, reactions to injustice, and innovative ideas to abolish hatred and violence in this country.
The winners of the contest will be featured on an episode of “Frank Talk,” a show hosted by Rogers that airs on Comcast Channel 21 and Verizon FIOS Channel 46 every Tuesday. The show is advertised as a “lively 30 - minute series that features New Jersey's arts scene, along with cultural events, social connections, entertainment, and thought-provoking interviews with people who are changing their communities and changing lives”.
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In an email, Rogers said, “Depending on the number of entries I receive, I'll feature a youth segment on my show 'Frank Talk,' which will include first, second, and third place winners.” This will give the children an opportunity to be seen in over 50,000 households throughout the area.
Rogers hopes that the essay contest will make more students aware. “Malcolm X was chosen (as the topic) because February 19th is the 46th anniversary of his death, and, I am certain that most students, even considering that this is Black History Month, don't know this,” she said.
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Frank Talk was created in 2008 to provide a hangout in Red Bank for those who are interested in art, history, literature, and current events. The café provides a plethora of books, newspapers, and magazines, free wireless Internet, and also serves coffee, tea, and pastries.
All participant essays should be emailed to nrubin@thegiftedassistant.net. In addition, a hard copy must be dropped off at Frank Talk before the February 20, 2011 deadline.
