THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602210130
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Twenty-nine from now, today's high school students will have children and grandchildren of their own. But will they all get along?
Maybe. Maybe not.
This mixed message about one of our nation's most troubling problems came from 115 high school students who entered The Virginian-Pilot's Black History Month essay contest. Pessimists argued that racism is human nature and will always be with us; optimists looked at past progress and projected it into the future.
``There is just no law that can halt racism,'' wrote Robert Subasavage, Booker T. Washington High. ``Racism is an inner feeling, and no rule can make people change their feelings.''
Repeatedly, students faulted the media for stereotyping minorities, parents for teaching racism to their children and even themselves for falling into a pattern of self-segregation that cuts crucial lines of communication.
Many found hope in the growing acceptance of interracial relationships, the diversification of the nation's work force and the large number of minorities entering politics.
Here are the winning entries, plus excerpts from the finalists.
KEYWORDS: BLACK HISTORY MONTH ESSAY CONTEST by CNB