Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Oratorical Fest
2026
Oakland’s legendary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Festival, featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary WE ARE THE DREAM: The kids of the Oakland MLK, Oratorical, has been one of the most popular district-wide events in Oakland for over forty years, and it’s fast approaching once again. Students, now is the time to write your speeches, poems, spoken word pieces, monologues, and scenes—or find one that speaks to your heart. Start rehearsing with the judges’ scoring sheet, because the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Festival returning February 2026.
We're excited about our 2026 Community Partner, The Golden State Warriors!
Watch the GS Warriors highlights of OUSD students shining and lifting up their powerful voices!
2026 Theme for MLK Oratorical
(Original writing and/or published pieces)
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
- What is one way you see his message still relevant today, and how do you think we can continue his work? (Original or published pieces; personal actions you can take, members in society can take)
- What social justice pioneers shined / or current activists or leaders are shining their light and love at a time of darkness to bring positive social change to our community or nation at a time of darkness? What can we learn from their actions?
Context #1
Context #1
"When he says "hate cannot drive out hate only light can do that; it recognizes that to be bitter about your circumstances is one thing. To retaliate based on your circumstance is quite another." said Terri Lee Freeman, president of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, at the site of the Lorraine Motel. So Dr. King reminds us that it is usually through love---actionable love--that we are able to make change."
King's Words Still Inspire Nearly 50 years After His Death, AP News by Jeff Martin, Jan 14, 2018
Context #2
Context #2
"These profound words by Martin Luther King, Jr encapsulate the essence of his philosophy and message of hope. On a straightforward level, the quote emphasizes the futility of combating negativity with more negativity. Instead, it calls for the power of positivity and love to bring about lasting change in the world... In existentialism, the emphasis is on individual responsibility and freedom of choice. It prompts us to reflect on how we can personally apply King's message of light and love in our own lives. In the context of existentialism, darkness can represent the challenges and hardships we encounter throughout life. It can be the moments of despair, hopelessness, and even hatred that arise within us. King's words suggest that by responding to darkness with more darkness, we only perpetuate a cycle of negativity. However by choosing light, we recognize our responsibility to bring positivity and love into the world. When we apply existentialist thought to King's quote, it becomes clear that it is not only a call to action for societal change but also an invitation for individual transformation. By choosing love and light, we become agents of change, capable of breaking the cycle of negativity that exists within ourselves and in the world around us.
Existentialism reminds us that we have the freedom to choose how we respond to darkness and hatred, and it is through our choices what we define our character and impact the world."
Oct 22, 2023, www.SocraticMethod.com
Your Work
- Your piece could speak on personal action you or individuals could take and members of society could take: youth, adults, activists, community leaders, organizations, government, society, media, schools/universities, clubs, families? (Original or published pieces)
- You could include actions taken in the past, present, 2026 and beyond.
- What social justice pioneers shined their light and love at a time of darkness to bring positive social change to their lives, their community or nation at a time of darkness? What can we learn from them? How could we continue their work?
- This could be a Call to Action for how to bring light and/or love into our community, city, state, country, or world.
Possible Sources
- King's Words Still Inspire Nearly 50 years After His Death, AP News by Jeff Martin, Jan 14, 2018 (This explores the 2026 theme.)
- Martin Luther King, Jr.: 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only... www.Socratic Method.com, Oct. 22, 2023
- Strength to Love, Dr. MLK, Jr, 1963 (theme quote appears in this book)
- Putting The Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching - Teaching for Change book
- How Can I Embrace Love to Sustain My Activism? by Briana Anderson Feb 2025
- Civil Protest: Love's Call to Action: Activism as a form of love, Aug 4, 2020
- All About Love by Bell Hooks
- Activism is an Act of Love: A Love Letter to Black Women by Ruby Veridiano
Possible Research Topics
- Research MLK and NonViolence
- Research building character by shining your light and leading with love
- Research MLK, Jr's vision for light in a dark world
- Research Dr. MLK, Jr's speeches on OKRA
- Research: Podcasts e.g. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
- Research: Youtube.com
- Research MLK's concept: The Beloved Community
- Research MLK's concept: The World House
- Research MLK's book: Where Do We Go From Here? Community or Chaos?
- Agape Love
Golden State Warriors' MLK Day 2026 - Half-Time Performer Opportunity
Only Original Writing on the Theme. Read Context 1 and Context 2 above.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
- What is one way you see Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's message still relevant today, and how do you think we can continue his work? (Personal actions you can take or are taking or members in society can take or are taking?)
- What social justice pioneers shined their light and love at a time of darkness to bring positive social change to our community or nation at a time of darkness?
January 14, 2026
Mandatory Halftime rehearsal at Chase Center with the confirmed entries (5:00pm - 10:00pm)
January 19, 2026
Golden State Warriors vs. Miami Heat, Chase Center
- Must be one (1) minute to compete for a change to perform at MLK Day game
- Email subject line: GSW MLK Day 2026. Type your entry on a Google Doc and share with: awele.makeba@ousd.org
Great MLK, Jr, Inspired Contest: Step Into the Light
Categories: Essays, Poetry, Video, Fine Art
Grand Prize: Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones
Best of Show Winners for Each Category: $300
Deadline: January 23, 2026 at 6:00pm
VIP Shoutouts
HBO, EMMY, Outstanding Children's Program
WE ARE THE DREAM: The Kids of the MLK Oratorical Fest
Streaming Now: Max and Amazon Prime

MLK Oratorical District-Wide Winner Shout Outs

Please click on the date for results.
Wednesday, February 11
Timeline
Registration & Hard Deadlines (Extended)
*NEW* Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:59pm
Golden State Warriors MLK Day, submissions on Google Doc for MLK Day 2026, SHARE to awele.makeba@ousd.org
Monday, December 29, 2025
Golden State Warriors MLK Day, 1 min piece memorized / or memorized on videotape (horizontally shot). Label video: GS Warriors MLK Day, Student’s Name, Student’s School, Grade - SHARE to awele.makeba@ousd.org
January 7-11, 2026
Zoom coaching with Ms. Awele
Golden State Warriors’ MLK Day
January 19, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Golden State Warriors vs. Miami Heat, Chase Center
Secondary Registration Deadline
EXTENDED: Monday, February 9, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Competition schedule being printed on Monday, February 9.
Secondary District-Wide Competition
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Venue: Skyline High School, 12250 Skyline Blvd.
Room: M2, Ms. Awele's Black Box next to Main Office Building
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Doors open 9:30 am
Important: Students must be in M2 at all times. Do not go on grass areas to practice or behind the Performing Arts / Music Building
Elementary Registration Deadline
Extended: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Elementary District-Wide Competition
School A-J
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
10:00am - 1:00pm
Check-in: 9:15am - 9:45am
School K-Z
Thursday, March 12, 2026
10:00am - 1:00pm
Check-in: 9:15 - 9:45 am
Henry J. Kaiser. Arts Center
10 10th St., Oakland, CA
HJKarts.org
(Near Lake Merritt; across from Oakland Museum & Laney College)
Transit Options
BART
Lake Merritt Station: 2 blocks
AC Transit
Bus lines: 29, 33, 40, 62, 88, 96, 840
Car
I-880 exit on Jackson St; Entrance 10th St. btwn Fallon St & East Drive
Things to Bring
- Water bottle
- snacks/lunch with student's name on them
Live Finals Showcase
Useful Documents and Links
Venues
For Decades, an Annual Competition Has Challenged Students to Deliver Speeches Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. Here's Why It's Still Going Strong
Contact Information

2025
Oakland’s legendary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Festival, featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary WE ARE THE DREAM: The kids of the Oakland MLK, Oratorical, has been one of the most popular district-wide events in Oakland for over forty years, and it’s fast approaching once again. Students, now is the time to write your speeches, poems, spoken word pieces, monologues, and scenes—or find one that speaks to your heart. Start rehearsing with the judges’ scoring sheet, because the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Festival returning February 2026.
We're excited about our 2025 Community Partner, The Golden State Warriors!
Watch the GS Warriors highlights of OUSD students shining and lifting up their powerful voices!
Themes
2025 Performance Update: Students must link the past, present (what this means for us today), the 2025 theme, and MLK’s legacy of standing up for positive social change in civil rights and social justice issues in their pieces.
"The Time Is Always Right To Do What Is Right"
Context of Quote: 1964 Oberlin College, "The Future of Integration" and 1964, Penn State, “The Future of Integration”
Dr. MLK, Jr. had just received the Nobel Peace Prize
"The Time Is Always Ripe To Do What is Right"
Context of Quote: "Letter From Birmingham Jail" and Why We Can’t Wait
"We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right."
VIP Shoutouts
HBO, EMMY, Outstanding Children's Program
WE ARE THE DREAM: The Kids of the MLK Oratorical Fest
Streaming Now: Max and Amazon Prime

MLK Oratorical District-Wide Winner Shout Outs!
- 1st Pace Winners Showcase & GS Warriors Surprise - Sun., 3/2
- MLK Oratorical Medals & Ribbons - School Quick Pick-Up - Sun., 3/2

Please click on the date for results.
Tuesday, February 4
Tuesday, February 11
Wednesday, February 12
Timeline
- Registration & Hard Deadlines
- School Oratorical
- District-Wide Registration
- District-Wide Competition
- Live Finals Showcase
- Useful Documents and Links
- Venues
Registration & Hard Deadlines
Golden State Warriors’ MLK Day
January 20, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Learn More about this opportunity
Secondary District-Wide Competition
January 23 - January 30, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Elementary District-Wide Competition
January 23 - February 5, 2025 at 6:00 pm
*Performances Special Note: Linking the past, present (what this means for us today), the 2025 theme, and MLK’s legacy of standing up for positive social change in civil rights, social justice issues, and or new fair and just policies, laws and practices for all of humanity.
School Oratorical
District-Wide Registration
District-Wide Competition
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Individual Performance
minimum of 1 minute and 3 minutes max
Group Performance
minimum of 1 minute and 5 minutes max
Lunches
Schools should coordinate snacks and lunches with OUSD Nutrition Services
Secondary Schools
Wednesday, February 5
Skyline High School, Drama M2
12250 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, 94619
Welcome/Check-in
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Elementary Schools: A-K
Tuesday, February 11
Scottish Rite Temple
1547 Lakeside Dr, Oakland, CA 94612
Welcome/Check-in
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Elementary Schools: L-Z
Wednesday, February 12
Scottish Rite Temple
1547 Lakeside Dr, Oakland, CA 94612
Welcome/Check-in
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Live Finals Showcase
Useful Documents and Links
Venues
Skyline High, Drama M2
12250 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, 94619
Scottish Rite Temple
1547 Lakeside Dr, Oakland, CA 94612
Public Transit: The following transit lines have routes that pass near Scottish Rite Center. Bus: 14, 1T, 20, 33, NL. and BART: Blue, Green, Orange, Red
Skyline Theatre
12250 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, 94619
For Decades, an Annual Competition Has Challenged Students to Deliver Speeches Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. Here's Why It's Still Going Strong
Contact Information

2024
2024 Theme
“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the wo/man who wields it.”
(Ennobles: verb - to make noble, honorable, or excellent; dignify; exalt)
The Challenge is to Practice NonViolence: 64 Ways/Days to Practice NonViolence.
Theme Context: Excerpt from…
Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1964
The Quest for Peace and Justice
In a real sense nonviolence seeks to redeem the spiritual and moral lag that I spoke of earlier as the chief dilemma of modern man. It seeks to secure moral ends through moral means. Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.
I believe in this method because I think it is the only way to reestablish a broken community. It is the method which seeks to implement the just law by appealing to the conscience of the great decent majority who through blindness, fear, pride, and irrationality have allowed their consciences to sleep.
The nonviolent resisters can summarize their message in the following simple terms: we will take direct action against injustice despite the failure of governmental and other official agencies to act first. We will not obey unjust laws or submit to unjust practices. We will do this peacefully, openly, cheerfully because our aim is to persuade. We adopt the means of nonviolence because our end is a community at peace with itself. We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts. We will always be willing to talk and seek fair compromise, but we are ready to suffer when necessary and even risk our lives to become witnesses to truth as we see it.
Resources:
Video, MLK: Nonviolence is the Most Powerful Weapon
Speech: Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom” Martin Luther King, Jr., May 4, 1966 (abridged)
Stanford U, Dr. MLK, Jr., Institute: Nonviolence
Video, Facing History: Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette on Non-Violence
Lesson: Teaching for Change: Putting The Movement Back Into Civil Rights Teaching / Download Lessons K-12
Lessons, National Park Service: Picturing Nonviolence Or Nonexistence 3-5
Rethinking Schools: Rethinking The Cycle of Violence
Video, PBS Documentary: The Interrupter
Lessons, Rethinking Schools: Teaching SNCC: The Organization at the Heart of the Civil Rights Revolution
Lessons, Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, and the Power of Nonviolence Lesson Plans 6-12
Video, Martin Luther King Speaks! "Nonviolence and Social Change"
VIP Shoutouts
2024 Timeline
2024 MLK Oratorical Winners Shout Out!
Live FINALS SHOWCASE
Sunday, February 25, 2024
12:15 pm Doors Open
1:00pm - 3:30pm
Skyline High School Theatre
All 1st place performers are invited to perform by category/grade levels:
- Speeches
- Poetry
- Monologues
- Scenes
**Medals: March delivery to schools (Date: TBD)
School Oratorical
January 17, 2024 – February 6, 2024
School Choice: Live or Virtual
District-Wide Registration
Secondary
February 1 – February 4 (hard deadline)
Elementary
February 1 – February 6 (hard deadline)
District-Wide Competition
Skyline High School
12250 Skyline Blvd.
9:30am - 12:30pm
Tuesday, February 6, Secondary
Welcome/Check-in: Performing Arts Building, Ms Awele's Rm, M2
Tuesday, February 13, Elementary A-K
Welcome/Check-in: Skyline Theatre
Wednesday, February 14, Elementary L-Z
Welcome/Check-in: Skyline Theatre
HBO, EMMY, Outstanding Children's Program
WE ARE THE DREAM: The Kids of the MLK Oratorical Fest
Streaming Now: Max and Amazon Prime

For Decades, an Annual Competition Has Challenged Students to Deliver Speeches Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. Here's Why It's Still Going Strong
Useful Documents and Links
2024 Registration
Live on January 17
Contact Information

2023
2023 Theme
Please choose from one of the following three themes. Resource links are provided below each theme for further information.
Purpose in Life & How I Want to Be Remembered
Dr. MLK, Jr.
- “I’d like for someone to say, Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others…I’d like for someone to say that Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to love somebody…I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.” (King, “The Drum Major,” 185–186).
- "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”"(King, "The Drum Major,” 185–186)
How I Would Like to Be Remembered
Prompt: In Dr. King’s Drum Major Instinct 1968 sermon he reflects on his sense of purpose and how he wanted to be remembered after he died.How would you like to be remembered right now, 5 or 10 years from now? How would you like to be remembered for making a difference in other people’s lives?
The Drum Major Instinct – (5 min excerpt)
The Drum Major Instinct , 2/4/1968, Ebenezer Baptist Church recording - https://youtu.be/Mefbog-b4-4
Dr MLK, Jr Research & Education Institute – Drum Major Instinct
https://kinginstitute.
About the MLK Oratorical
More than four decades ago, the Founder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Oratorical Fest, Donald Oliver had a vision. He wanted to showcase students' oratorical skills and he wanted to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He felt that the testing/reading score data did not truly lift students’ comprehension and fluency skills and abilities, but he knew that delivering an oration was an academic exercise that required students to read and comprehend complex text in order to analyze, synthesize, interpret, critique, and present or perform that text (creating a new form through performance) in a competition in public speaking.
This brings us to 2023 and the 44th Annual OUSD Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Festival in which schools at all grade levels across Oakland have an opportunity to bring Donald Oliver's vision to their students. Below you find information about grade level divisions and the oratorical festival categories.
Grade Level Divisions:
- Pre-Kindergarten-2nd grade
- 3rd-5th grade
- 6th-8th grade
- 9th-12th grade
Categories:
- Individual Performer – 1 Performer on Stage
- Monologue - original or published in a script (3 min)
- Poetry - published poetry (3 min)
- Poetry - original poetry (poet performing poem they wrote, 3 min)
- Speech - famous & not so famous – (3 min)
- Two or More Performers on Stage Groups/Scenes
- Poetry – published (up to 5 min)
- Poetry - original (written by the performing poets, (up to 5 min)
- Speech - famous & not so famous (up to 5 min)
- Scene - published & devised (up to 5 min)
Please see Divisions and Categories Information Details for number of entries allowed per school.
2023 Timeline
Announcement
Ribbons & Medals Pick-up
Saturday, May 6, 8:00am - 12:00pm
17th St. @ Lakeside (X from Lake Merritt)
Awele will hand Medals bag to teachers/principals
Text: (510) 601-0178
School Oratorical
January 17, 2023 – February 9, 2023
School Choice: Live or Virtual
District-Wide Registration
February 6, 2023 – February 10, 2023 (hard deadline)
MLK District-Wide School Registration for Video Editing Post Production
DISTRICT-WIDE Competition Registration Survey
*SPECIAL NOTE - VIDEO CLIPS: Submit ONLY 1 per performance category entry
Do not submit all school performances in 1 video.
Virtual District-Wide Competition
*Video - Memorized Performances
*SPECIAL NOTE - VIDEO CLIPS: Submit ONLY 1 per performance category entry (this should appear her and above)
Do not submit all school performances in 1 video.
Shout Out: WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Live FINALS SHOWCASE
All 1st place performers will perform by category/grade levels:
- Speeches
- Poetry
- Monologues
- Scenes
Skyline High School
Sunday, April 23, 2023
1:00pm - 5:30pm
Doors open at 12:15pm
HBO, EMMY, Outstanding Children's Program
WE ARE THE DREAM: The Kids of the MLK Oratorical Fest
Streaming Now: HBOMax and Amazon Prime

For Decades, an Annual Competition Has Challenged Students to Deliver Speeches Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. Here's Why It's Still Going Strong - >>Read More
Useful Documents and Links
Film Inspiration & Resources: FREE virtual 1/13-16 Dr. MLK, Jr. Film Fest - Stanford: World House Project

Free Registration: Register Here
Contact Information

