ICNA-CSJ Black History Month
Spoken Word Contest
Open to New Jersey Middle & High School Students (Grades 7–12)
Entries Close on Tuesday,
February 10, 2026
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Winners Will Be Announced on Thursday, February 19, 2026
Overview
Open to all New Jersey Middle and
High School students
Entries must be 3 minutes
or less
Topic for all grades:
Social Justice
Contest Rules
Eligibility
- Open to students attending school in New Jersey
- Entrants under the age of 18 must have parent or legal guardian permission
- Use of artificial intelligence to compose an entry will result in disqualification
- Grades 7 through 12
- Submissions must be original and unpublished
- All entries must follow the rules outlined on this page
Contest Criteria
Entries will be scored based on the following criteria:
Content and Writing
(The Poem Itself)
Originality & Creativity
Is the piece fresh, unique, and surprising? Does it present original ideas or an unconventional perspective?
Message / Theme
Is the piece fresh, unique, and surprising? Does it present original ideas or an unconventional perspective?
Structure & Flow
Is the piece fresh, unique, and surprising? Does it present original ideas or an unconventional perspective?
Language & Imagery
Is the piece fresh, unique, and surprising? Does it present original ideas or an unconventional perspective?
Performance and
Delivery
Vocal Delivery
Is the voice clear, articulate, and well-projected? Is there effective use of tone, pace, volume, and rhythm?
Stage Presence / Body Language
Is the piece fresh, unique, and surprising? Does it present original ideas or an unconventional perspective?
Connection to Audience
Is the piece fresh, unique, and surprising? Does it present original ideas or an unconventional perspective?
Emotional Authenticity
Is the piece fresh, unique, and surprising? Does it present original ideas or an unconventional perspective?
How to Submit
- Each contestant may submit only one entry
- No registration fee
- Entry text must be typed or pasted into the contest Google Form
- Entries must be 3 minutes or less
- Submissions open on Sunday, February 1
- Deadline: Midnight on Tuesday, February 10
- Any deviation from these rules may result in disqualification
- *Video of spoken word performance (3 minutes or less) must be uploaded to YouTube*
Awards & Announcements
- Prize
- Winner Announcement
Awards
$300
Visa Gift Card for top entry in each grade category
Announcement Date
Feb 19, 2026
Winners announced via website, social media & email
Frequently Asked
Questions
Is this contest open to college students?
No. This contest is open to NJ students attending public, private and charter schools in NJ who are currently (as of February 1, 2024) in grades 7 through 12
How many entries may a student submit to this contest?
Each student is allowed one entry.
Let Your Voice Be Heard
Share your perspective on social justice and be part of the 2026 Black History Month Spoken Word Contest.