Austin, TX — Queen Williams, a fourth grader at Lee Lewis Campbell Elementary, won first place in this year’s MLK Oratory Competition, part of the Austin Area Heritage Council’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Her speech, written and performed by Queen, addressed racism, leadership, and respect, and closed with the exhortation to “keep your boots on the ground and keep walking no matter what others say.”
Queen’s speech was written as part of the competition theme: “If Dr. King were alive today, what would you share with him?”
Queen says, “A message I want everybody to hear is that it’s kind of also in my speech, no, keep your boots on the ground and keep walking no matter what others say.”
After winning the competition, Queen was invited to perform at the Texas Capitol and then later at Austin City Hall during a Black History Month Celebration.
Fadeelah Muhyee, Queen’s mom, tells us, “When I heard Queen’s speech for the first time, I was blown away by the research and just what she was saying, how she was able to articulate her words, beyond her age”.
Yvette Crawford-Lee, board member with the Austin Area Heritage Council and coordinator for the MLK oratory competition, says “we’re kind of like handing over the torch to them to move forward, become more active in the community, to do community service, etc.”
The MLK Oratory Competition is in its 21st year. It invites 4th–6th grade students to submit original speeches based on the theme; finalists from area schools present at Austin Community College. Winners frequently receive speaking invitations across Austin.
How to watch: Queen’s speech is posted on Fadeelah’s Facebook under Queen Dela (Q U E E N Dela D E E L A) and on Instagram at @RealQueenDela when available.
Want to enter next year? Schools are invited in early August; parents can visit mlkcelebration.com for details.