The Sankofa Foundation and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Xi Tau Lambda Chapter
Black History Month Essay Contest
2026
The 2026 Black History Month Essay Contest is sponsored by the Sankofa Foundation and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Xi Tau Lambda Chapter. The contest was created to provide Dallas Metroplex high school students with an opportunity to earn a prize by spreading awareness of prominent African American leaders and trailblazers making an impact in the world.
Eligibility
Eligible participants are current 9 th grade male high school Dallas Metroplex students. First, second, and third place winners will be selected by a panel of judges and will receive monetary prizes for educational purposes. Prizes will be provided in the form of a check made payable directly to the student (or parent/legal guardian).
Essays must be typed, 500-750 words in length (approximately 2 to 2 ½ pages). Only one essay submission per contestant.
Submissions must also include the essay submission form provided on the last page of this document. All submissions must be the contestant’s original work. Essays created or developed using AI tools such as ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence-based language generation models will not be considered.
Essays will be judged upon 1) adherence to the topic, 2) essay organization, 3) voice (clarity of author’s purpose), 4) word choice, 5) sentence structure, grammar, mechanics & spelling.
Essay Details
Students will write and submit an original essay based on the theme:
Black History in the Digital Age: Social Media as a Tool for Learning and Change
Social media and digital platforms play a significant role in how people learn about Black history today. Students will select a publicly accessible digital platform, such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, a podcast, or a creator or digital movement that educates, inspires, or preserves Black history.
Students must include the social media handle or a direct link to the platform, creator, or movement they choose. They will describe how it shares Black history and why this is important for young people today.
All content referenced must be publicly appropriate, age-appropriate, and suitable for a general audience.
Prizes
- First Place: $500
- Second Place: $250
- Third Place: $150
All essays must be submitted electronically to https://dfwsankofa.org/programs/black-history-month-essay-contest/online-essay-contest-application/
All submissions are due by 11:59 PM (CST) on February 13, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered. Winners will be notified via email by February 27, 2026.
For questions, please contact info@dfwsankofa.org
For more information about the Sankofa Foundation or Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., please visit: DFWSankofa.org or NorthDallasAlphas.org
Disclaimer: By participating in the Black History Month Essay Contest, I hereby irrevocably grant to the Sankofa Foundation and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Xi Tau Lambda Chapter perpetually, exclusively, and for use throughout the world, any and all rights to use and incorporate, in whole or in part, my submission, my name, and my likeness, for reproduction in any and all media for purposes of advertising, trade, display, exhibition, editorial use, or other use as determined by the Sankofa Foundation and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Xi Tau Lambda Chapter in its sole discretion.
