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“How would Dr. King reflect on the 60 years since his ‘I Have a Dream' speech?” was this year’s topic for Houston's 28th Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition for students across the Houston area.

The annual oratory competition at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and aims to cultivate skills such as writing and oratory skills in young students.

Fourth-grade Blackshear Elementary student Montoia Murray, 9, won first place in an emotional moment Friday at the competition, which was organized by Foley & Lardner LLP.

Fifth-grader Solieh McKnight from James H. Law Elementary won second place, and Ilsa Lucia Aguilar from Pleasantville won third place.

Veronica Carroll, speech coach, at left, prays with her pupil Soileh McKnight, 9, of Blackshear Elementary, during the Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, in Houston
Montoia Murray, 9, of Balckshear Elementary, cries after receiving the first place award during the Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ,

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Antranik Tavitian is a photojournalist at the Abdelraoufsinno. He previously worked at The Arizona Republic, where he covered the border, Arizona politics, Mezcal production in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Phoenix’s...