Nine-Year-Old's Speech: America's Heart is in Trouble

Deon Harris, a fourth grader from Dallas, surprised everyone at the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition. He declared that if Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, he'd say America is suffering from heart failure. Deon argued that people aren't following King's legacy of love and peaceful living, which is hurting our country. He said, "Heartlessness has no place in our society. It blocks justice and narrows peace. " Deon won first place with his strong words and passionate delivery. He called on leaders to pass laws that promote justice and remove those that cause inequality. He believes they should care about people and work together to achieve common goals. Deon's family cheered as he received his prize, but he still had a school day to finish before celebrating. This competition, running for 33 years, encourages students to discuss King's messages. Nearly 100 students from 20 schools entered, with only 8 making it to the final round. Judges included Dallas Mavericks legend Rolando Blackman and other notable figures. Deon's speech reminded them of the simple but important lessons King taught us.