{"id":1948,"date":"2022-02-23T23:03:47","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T04:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/?page_id=1948"},"modified":"2025-04-22T19:20:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T23:20:27","slug":"winners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Winners Essay Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#e8eaf0;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:1300px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p>The New Jersey chapter of ICNA Council for Social Justice (ICNA CSJ) is pleased to announce the winners of the statewide Black History Month Essay Contests:<\/p>\n<p><b>2025 Winners<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Grades 11 &amp; 12<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\">1st prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/change-begins-with-us-fight-against-racism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Change Begins With Us<\/b><\/a> By Jannat Zaanoun, Monroe Township High School<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\">2nd prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/combating-racial-injustice-as-youth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>The Fight Isn\u2019t Over: Understanding and Combating Racial Injustice as the Youth<\/b><\/a> By Zoeya Pasha, Watchung Hills High School<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\">3rd prize: <b><a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/finding-our-power-fight-against-racism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Finding Our Power<\/a><\/b> By Safa Rahman, South Brunswick High School<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Grades 9 &amp; 10<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\">1st prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/2025-1st-prize-9th-10th-grade-category-unequal-justice-the-racial-disparities-in-americas-legal-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Unequal Justice: The Racial Disparities in America&#8217;s Legal System<\/b><\/a> By Shayan Malik, Noor ul Iman<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\">2nd prize: <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/youth-redefine-fight-against-racial-injustice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Voices of Change: How The Youth Redefine the Fight Against Racial Injustice<\/b><\/a> By Hania Hashmi, An-Noor Academy<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\">3rd prize: <\/span><b><a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/impact-of-systemic-racism-in-law-enforcement-and-judicial-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The impact of systemic racism in law enforcement and the judicial system on society<\/a><\/b> By Karima Kayed, Rising Star Academy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Grades 7 &amp; 8<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li>1st prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/weathering-the-tides-fight-against-racism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Weathering the Tides<\/b><\/a> By Jacob Lee, Tenakill Middle School<\/li>\n<li>2nd prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/bridging-culture-and-religion-how-islam-and-black-history-meet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Bridging Culture and Religion: How Islam and Black History meet?<\/b><\/a> By Bareerah Binte Islam, Baytul-Iman Academy<\/li>\n<li>3rd prize: <b><a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/pursuing-justice-from-civil-rights-to-palestine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pursuing Justice: From Civil Rights to Palestine<\/a><\/b> By Mabshurah Naware, An-Noor Academy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>2024 Winners<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Grades 11 &amp; 12<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>1st prize: <a class=\"row-title\" href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/tears-of-injustice-palestine-and-apartheid\/\" aria-label=\"\u201c2024 \u2013 1st Prize \u2013 11th &amp; 12th grade category \u2013 The Tears of Injustice By Shifa Eraj Rutgers Preparatory School (Shifa Eraj, Rutgers Preparatory School)\u201d (Edit)\"> The Tears of Injustice <\/a>By Shifa Eraj Rutgers Preparatory School<\/li>\n<li>2nd prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/echoes-of-displacement-palestine-vs-apartheid\/\">Echoes of Displacement: Parallel narratives of resilience in Palestine and apartheid-era South Africa <\/a>by Suleiman Kouar, Darul Arqam School<\/li>\n<li>3rd prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/parallels-and-disparities-palestine-and-blacks-under-apartheid\/\">The plight of Palestinians and Blacks in apartheid regimes <\/a>by Zainab Ijaz, Rising Star Academy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Grades 9 &amp; 10<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>1st prize: <a class=\"row-title\" href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/racial-injustice-and-your-responsibility\/\" aria-label=\"\u201c2024 \u2013 1st Prize \u2013 9th &amp; 10th grade category \u2013 Racial Injustice in society and your civic responsibility By Dejalee Marmolejos An-Noor Academy (Dejalee Marmolejos, An-Noor Academy)\u201d (Edit)\">Racial Injustice in society and your civic responsibility <\/a>By Dejalee Marmolejos An-Noor Academy (Dejalee Marmolejos, An-Noor Academy)<\/li>\n<li>2nd prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/racial-injustice-and-our-civic-duties\/\">Racial Injustice and our civic duties<\/a> by Aesha Badawi, Rising Star Academy<\/li>\n<li>3rd prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/essay-contest\/winners\/our-responsibilities-in-the-face-of-injustice\/\">What are our responsibilities in the face of injustice?<\/a> by Rufaida Hossain, An-Noor Academy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>2023 Winners<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Grades 11 &amp; 12<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>1st prize:<a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/1st-prize-imaad-siddiqui-of-princeton-nj\"> The Intention of Innovation: How Social Media Intersects with Racial Justice <\/a>by Imaad Siddiqui of Princeton, NJ<\/li>\n<li>2nd prize:<a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/2nd-prize-alisha-noor-chaudhry-of-princeton-nj\"> Unbiased Brotherhood: The Islamic Approach to Racial Discrimination <\/a>by Alisha Noor Chaudhry of Princeton, NJ<\/li>\n<li>3rd prize:<a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/3rd-prize-muhammad-siddiqui-of-piscataway-nj\">SOCIAL MEDIA: A World On Fire <\/a>by Muhammad Siddiqui of Piscataway, NJ<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Grades 9 &amp; 10<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1st prize:<a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/1st-prize-ziyad-nagarwala-of-princeton-junction-nj\/\"> Digital Racism <\/a>by Ziyad Nagarwala of Princeton Junction, NJ<\/li>\n<li>2nd prize:<a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/2nd-prize-marib-saeed-of-jersey-city-nj\"> Seeds of Change <\/a>by Marib Saeed of Jersey City, NJ<\/li>\n<li>3rd prize:<a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/3rd-prize-raaida-naser-of-somerset-nj\"> Why Our Communities Will Never Be Equal <\/a>by Raaida Naser of Somerset, NJ<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2022 Winners<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Grades 11 &amp; 12\n<ul>\n<li>1st prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/csj\/winners\/what-we-can-control-how-systemic-racism-in-the-united-states-impacts-the-black-community\/\">Racial Injustice and the Responsibility of Youth <\/a>by Salma Abdallah of East Orange, NJ<\/li>\n<li>2nd prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/csj\/winners\/what-should-i-do\/\">What Should I Do?<\/a> by Rahma Rizly of Piscataway, NJ<\/li>\n<li>3rd prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/csj\/winners\/our-responsibility-on-racism\/\">Our Responsibility on Racism <\/a>by Afnan Abbassi of Washington Township, NJ<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Grades 9 &amp; 10\n<ul>\n<li>1<sup>st<\/sup> prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/csj\/winners\/discrimination-within-diversity-anti-blackness-in-the-muslim-community\/\">Discrimination within Diversity: Anti-Blackness in the Muslim Community <\/a>by Shaimaa Al-Zaman of Princeton Junction, NJ<\/li>\n<li>2<sup>nd<\/sup> prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/csj\/winners\/being-the-same-is-mediocre\/\">Being the Same is Mediocre <\/a>by Noor Alawi of Wayne, NJ<\/li>\n<li>3<sup>rd<\/sup> prize: <a href=\"http:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/csj\/winners\/the-competence-of-present-diversity\/\">The Competence of Present Diversity <\/a>by Rayhana Choudhury of Fair Lawn, NJ<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>First prize winners in both age groups will receive a new tablet. Second and third prize winners will receive $200 and $100 gift cards respectively.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 80px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}<\/style><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2575,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1948","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1948"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4060,"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1948\/revisions\/4060"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/icnanj.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}