Civil Rights icon Malcolm X once said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” This year’s Malcolm/King Award winners embody that spirit in their commitment to academic excellence and a bright future for the African American community. As part of our Black History Month celebration, we’re proud to share these talented students’ perspectives, award-winning projects, and career aspirations.
Kayla Dudley ’24
Major: Political Science with a minor in Africana Studies
Hometown: Staten Island, New York
Career Aspiration: I’d like to become a civil rights attorney. I see myself working in a Black-owned law firm, helping to positively change the legal system, and publishing my poetry books.
Malcolm/King Award-Winning Submission: Winning this award means a lot to me. I love writing poetry and advocating for social justice. Being recognized for putting these two passions together let me know that I was doing something right. When I was writing the poem, I was walking around my house with Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” playing in the background. All of these phrases started to pop up in my head. I wanted to compare Dr. King’s “I Had a Dream” speech to my dreams in 2023. I needed to illustrate how important it was to keep fighting for equality—despite all the disturbing things that happened to him and the Black community. I wanted to show that even 60 years later, we’ve grown but still have issues to address. We’re still going through racial injustices that need to be addressed.
Daven Asafo-Agyei ’25
Major: Security Management
Hometown: New York, New York
Career Aspiration: I hope to become a sustainability professional, educator, and business owner. I would also like to get into urban landscape or architectural design.
Malcolm/King Award-Winning Submission: Two years ago, I wrote an essay that was influenced by both Malcolm X and Dr. King. I was tired of how the world was going on, as if the Earth was not on fire. When I found out about the Malcolm/King Leadership Award, I decided to use a combination of stock photos and videos to create my own video show with parts of my essay as a voiceover. The medium provided me with the perfect platform to reach people and make my plea for humanity and the Earth’s survival. I want to raise awareness regarding the climate emergency. Eventually, I’d like to host a walk to Washington in hopes of a federal recycling mandate and suggest a truce among all nations.
Nicole Miller ’24
Major: Humanities and Justice
Hometown: New York, New York
Career Aspiration: I’d like to work with a nonprofit organization that helps underserved communities find the resources they need to thrive. I see myself advocating for diversity and equal opportunities for everyone.
Malcolm/King Award-Winning Submission: Listening to Amanda Gorman’s poem during the President’s inauguration was incredibly moving for me—especially considering how she created a nonprofit organization that provides creative writing programs for underprivileged youth. My poem for the Malcolm/King Award—which I was honored to receive—was inspired by my experience in the Vera Program. Vera showed me the power of my voice—a power that both Malcolm X and MLK positively used to uplift the African American community and spread the message of equality.