Today, the Nottingham Writers’ Studio (NWS) launched a short story competition in memory of George Floyd, a black man killed by a white police officer in the US. The overall winner will receive £250 and be published in an upcoming anthology – ‘Black Lives’.
“The murder of George Floyd by a man who was meant to protect him is a tragedy. This competition is intended to commemorate his life and shine a spotlight on the BAME community and their stories,” said Alan Walker, Chair at NWS.
There will be a second and third place prize of £125 and £75, respectively. Any entrants who are selected for the anthology will receive a £30 payment for their story. The competition is free to enter and open to all though BAME are ‘strongly encouraged’ to apply. Any money raised from the sale of the ‘Black Lives’ anthology will be donated to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
“Unfortunately, racial inequality isn’t just a problem for the US. A black man in the UK is statistically more likely to die earlier and receive harsher sentencing from our criminal justice system then a white counterpart. This is our very small way of trying to give a greater voice to those who traditionally have been underserved,” said Adam O’Connell, a Director at NWS.For more information on the competition visit – https://www.nottinghamwritersstudio.co.uk/
