In Lieu of Prizes

$2,500 donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which works to legally fight civil and human rights violations for the most vulnerable communities.

About

We always tell you that as our creators, you're our partners. This means we’re here to support you, but also to amplify your voices and listen to what you have to say. This week, in light of the heavy weight on the most vulnerable communities and the pressing conversations that need to be had openly and honestly, we’re introducing you to a new kind of Challenge.

For this Challenge, instead of dividing you all in friendly competition, we’re challenging you all as a community to come together and have those conversations. There won’t be a winner chosen, and we won’t be giving a cash prize to any single individual.

Instead, we’re giving you an open floor to tell us what you want people to know in light of the international conversations sparked by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, and so many others lost to racist violence. Maybe that’s elaborating on your experiences as a Black person in America; maybe that’s you as a nonblack person sharing resources and lessons that you think your nonblack peers need to engage with. Create a story that takes the opportunity to educate others, share your own past experiences, or to share what you hope comes as a result of this huge cultural movement.

We want to challenge you all to share your voices, so our goal is to receive at least 250 entries to this Challenge by June 24 at 11:59pm EST. For the first 250 eligible entries we receive, we're pledging $10 per story to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which works to legally fight civil and human rights violations for the most vulnerable communities.

Requirements

In order for your story to be eligible, it must adhere to our Community Guidelines, and be applicable to, cognizant of, and respectful of the international conversations taking place about race inspired by protests around the United States. This Challenge is a place for the most vulnerable voices to speak candidly—entries that are determined by the Vocal team to be inflammatory, instigating, diminishing, or disrespectful in the context of these cultural conversations will be removed from the Challenge.