Dr. Clement A. Price Essay Contest
To celebrate Dr. Clement A. Price’s (1945 – 2014) legacy, The Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity, Culture,
and the Modern Experience and the Superintendent’s Office of Newark Public Schools are introducing
the Dr. Clement A. Price Essay contest which will be open to Newark Public Schools students ranging
from 6th grade to 12th grade.
Dr. Clement A. Price
1945 – 2014
Dr. Price was a historian, author, professor, mentor, innovator and a
champion for Newark. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees
from the University of Bridgeport, he went to Rutgers University –
New Brunswick becoming one of the first American Americans to
earn a Ph.D. in history. His love for history led him to teach U.S.
history courses at Rutgers University – Newark, write numerous
books on the African American experience in the U.S., serve on local
and national civic and historic committees and become Newark’s city
historian. In addition to this, he served as founder and director of The
Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience
(IECME).
Guidelines:
Theme: In Dr. Clement Price’s “Break Every Yoke, Let the Oppressed Go Free!” he examines the
American experience through the lens of struggle and triumph. Please select a group of people who have
“broken the yoke of oppression” in the United States of America. Write an original, typed, and doublespaced 500 – 1000 word essay that:
 Explains how this group of people have triumphed (or continue to struggle) and the unique
aspects of their experience,
 Compares their fight to that of the one chronicled by Dr. Price in the article, and
 Explains how their struggle and triumph impact American society.
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Essays will be evaluated on basis of organization, content, creativity, and grammatical
structure.
One essay per student.
First, second & third place prizes will be awarded in two categories – Grades 6-8 and Grades
9-12. Panel of invited judges include:
o Cami Anderson, Superintendent, Newark Public Schools
o Dr. Roland V. Anglin, Director, Rutgers University – Newark Cornwall Center
o Irene Cooper-Basch, Executive Officer, Victoria Foundation
o Wilma Grey, Director, Newark Public Library
Essays are due Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 5pm.
Cover Sheet must include your name, grade, email address (if applicable), telephone number,
address, and name of your school.
Email submissions to:drpriceessaycontest@nps.k12.nj.us OR
Mail submissions to: Newark Public Schools, 2 Cedar Street, Attn: Nisheena Q. Smith,
Newark, NJ 07017
Finalist will be notified on February 13, 2015 and formally recognized at the 35th annual Marion Thompson
Wright (MTW) Lecture Series at Rutgers University – Newark, Paul Robeson Center on Saturday, February 21,
2015. For more details, please contact Ms. Nisheena Q. Smith at (973) 733-7334.