Fourth Grader Wins MLK Day Oratory Competition In Houston

Nine-year-old Montoia Murray wins Houston's Oratory Competition centered on Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech.

A fourth grader won Houston’s Independent School District Oratory Competition in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Montoia Murray won out of 165 fourth- and fifth-graders across 20 schools in the area in the Jan. 12 MLK competition.

The competition showcased students’ speeches in reflection of Dr. King’s famous words. This year’s theme was “How Would Dr. King Reflect on the 60 Years Since His ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech” for all students to incorporate into their performance. The competition has been in place for months, with its finale event taking place in the weekend ahead of the federal holiday, Houston Public Media reported.

Its series of rounds were held in fall 2023, leading to 12 finalists to take the stage. Murray ranked the highest on account of her delivery, stage presence, and content interpretation, among other factors. The nine-year-old won the top prize of $1,000, with all participants winning a backpack and iPad for their hard work.

Of the importance of this annual event, one of its sponsors spoke of how it carries on King’s legacy.

“This weekend is about remembering Dr. King,” said Claude Treece, a partner at sponsoring law firm Foley and Lardner. “We think it’s important to do something that takes that into account and to get kids to think about him. Then to get speeches where they are out there and people hear them and they think about them. They hear how Dr. King continues to matter in our kid’s lives.”

While the competition initially started in Dallas in 1993, it expanded to other cities such as Houston in 1997, with a Chicago contest founded in 2020. For nearly two decades, it has been a time-honored tradition and event for young students to sharpen their speaking and writing skills, while also remembering the history and advocacy of Dr. King.

With her win, Murray is making her parents proud as she honors the words of the civil rights icon through her own speech.

“I’m elated,” said Chadanet, Murray’s mother. “I knew she was a star. I knew from very young.”