MATTAPOISETT — Toni Morrison, Marie Maynard Daly and Kendrick Lamar were among the figures honored in student submitted artwork that decorated the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 8 for Tri-Town Against Racism’s fifth annual Creative Expression Contest.

The Creative Expression Contest began as a way to encourage students across the tri-town to honor Black History Month in America, with this year’s contest specifically focusing on the theme “African Americans and Labor.”

“It’s always about Black history and just trying to highlight voices that basically model the cause and make sure that there’s opportunity for people to learn about the contributions of Black and brown citizens here in the US,” said Jason Chisholm, executive director of Tri-Town Against Racism.

“[This is] an opportunity to really reflect on Black History Month and all the prominent figures that you’ll see represented, and just really understanding the important role that people of color had in history,” said Rhonda Baptiste, vice president of Tri-Town Against Racism.

This year’s competition expanded to include elementary schools across the tri-town in addition to junior high schools and high schools, according to Tri-Town Against Racism Director of Community Relations Kate Excellent. Participating schools include Old Colony High School, Old Rochester Regional High School, Sippican Elementary and more.

Owen Excellent, a second grader at Sippican Elementary, drew a picture of Rosa Parks for his submission, which received an honorable mention. He says Parks inspires him to never give up in the face of inequality.

Drawing serves as an important creative outlet for him, he said, adding, “What I like about drawing is that you can explore and make new things.”

Old Rochester Regional High School sophomore Georgia Bailey gravitated toward art as a means to spread awareness about important causes.

“I like spreading awareness, showing that I can do this, that I can be an active member in society,” said Bailey. “I can give hope to people with just something I put my whole heart into saying.”

She received an honorable mention for her collage depicting an “African American woman being the sun rising above the day to show that we paint our own future — to give us hope.”

“I thought it would be good to represent that we all can create a better future for ourselves,” said Bailey. “The power’s in the people.”

Ashley Marcelino, a junior at Old Colony High School, crafted an honorable-mention winning collage inspired by civil rights and gay rights activist Bayard Rustin.

“I did some research on him and I found he’s a great activist for what he did and they tried hiding him because of his sexual orientation,” said Marcelino. “So I think the pop of colors in my piece help show how he should have been seen, instead of him hiding behind the scenes.”

John Excellent, a member of Tri-Town Against Racism, emphasized the importance of understanding Black history in the United States during his award ceremony speech.

“Acknowledging the advancements, achievements and contributions of Black Americans is something that should be done every day because Black history is American history,” said Excellent.