PALMDALE – For months, Jennifer Williams, Emani Stanford, Alexis Hithe and Sarah Grace Durham gave up their weekends and spent working lunches boning up on African American culture, accomplishments and history.
Their hard work and discipline paid off Saturday, when the four SOAR High School seniors clinched victory for a second time at the Black365 Knowledge Bowl competition.
“The competition was fierce and intense,” said founder Jamaal Brown. “It actually came down to the final Knowledge Bowl question.”
The Black365 Knowledge Bowl Competition, now in its second year, is a jeopardy-style competition where students from different schools face off to test their knowledge of Black history.
The competition also serves another important purpose, Brown said.
“To show the community that there are students in our community who want information and want to be empowered by our collective past and collective history,” he said. “There are students out there who are more than athletes, drug dealers, gang members and entertainers, but are scholars and are inspired by our history.”
This year’s competition included four teams – The Super SAJE Sistah Squad from SOAR High School; the AV Scholars from Antelope Valley High School; the Freedom Riders from Pete Knight High School; and the Lady Saints from Animo Locke II Charter High School in Los Angeles.
Teams buzzed in on 101 questions covering various topics in Black history, including Great African Leaders, African Flags, Political Prisoners, Famous Lecturers, and Black Organizations.
By all accounts, the students performed exceptionally well.
“The students all rose to the occasion… their mastery of the information was truly impressive,” said Brown. “Those who attended were informed and entertained.”
The back-to-back champions from SOAR High School took home $150 cash and a Black365 Knowledge Bowl Trophy. Second place winners, The AV Scholars from Antelope Valley High School, took home $50 cash and medals.
Students in the competition said they took home something else – something much more valuable.
“An enriching experience on Black culture,” said SOAR team leader Jennifer Williams.
“I feel as though Black history is important for everyone, not just people of African American descent or people who have the color of black, but I think it’s important for everybody to know,” said SOAR team member Sarah Grace Durham.
Brown said many questions for the Knowledge Bowl competition came from the Black365 calendar, a 12-month wall calendar that highlights an event in Black History every day. For more information or to purchase a Black365 calendar, visit www.black365.us.
Additionally, applications for participants and sponsors are now being accepted for next year’s Black365 Knowledge Bowl competition. For more information, visit www.black365knowledgebowl.com.
Yo Mama says
I’d love to post a comment, but Abdul, up there, took aaaaaaaaaaalll the available space! Retain a ghost writer next time there, Mr. history buff.
Abdul Majeed Askia says
I and you and we are the original people! That is, we all come from one source ! All the elements that exist in the earth are within us. We all
are made of the elements within the universe,we eat,breath and walk and
live on the same planet! As science will tell us we all once lived in
the same location!However,a mad scientist came along with a color scheme
and divided the people along color lines.Using the bible to define
curse’s and racial superiority!Reality say’s clearly we are all from one
source;however,Muslims,christians and Jews used the scripture to divide
the people aong racial lines!Racism reigns until this day in all the faiths! Some muslims say “only the descendants of Ali should be the keepers
of the kaba(along blood lines),.The Jews say palestine/Isreal belongs
to the jews only along color lines!The christians say Jesus is God,and
god is with,the chosen people is white,and the angels is white and the
white man is the cream of the crop.Now you see why the world is in such a mess?!!! Everybody wants to be the one based on their color,race,religion,
ethnicity,culture and nationality. Now theres some history for you!
Its apparent we are all on this planet together and should getalong like
Rodney King said “can’t we all get along!” Personally I don’t just
believe we are ‘one ‘ it is crystal clear we are ‘one’. It is these
divisive philosophies that seperate us!Look at Saudi Arabia in the year
2012 denying women the right to vote and drive cars while the entire
world is watching! 2012 and the priesthood is holding women down by
mis-interpretation of the religion! I know, there is no priesthood in
Islam.Yes it is!!!! The Qu’ran says there is no priesthood in Islam but
reality say’s otherwise! Again the Qu’ran say’s there is no racial
superiority but the priesthood is practicing slavery!!!
Christians and muslims practiced slavery for sure! The middle eastern
muslims are two faced, they pretend there is no racism in Islam when
in reality they blantantly racist! Now its time for you students to
do you history research and either confirm what I’ve said or disprove
the above.
In fact everyone is invited to the community round table to discuss
community development so that we can all live in peace,the christian,
Jew,muslimsatheist and people ingeneral! Lets rise above negativity!
However,unless we know the heart of whats divideding us we will
continue to perpetuate the same old life style. Jesus said know ye
the truth and the truth shall set you free ! Moses/Jesus said love
the lord thy God with all thy heart and your neighbor as yourself!
Thats some deep history whether Jesus or Moses were black or white we
should praticise these principles,if we can get passed the color!
Of course Prophet Muhammad said there was no black over a white,and no
white over a black, and no arab over a black and no black over an arab!
Now thats good on papaer but that is not the reality when you live
around these guys!
abdulaskia@yahoo.com..323-9459589 feel free to contact and we can further
discuss the present realities.
Mario says
GO SOAR! :D