Writing the Wrongs of Ethnic Prejudice : Education: Motivated by the riots, a record number respond to an essay contest on multiculturalism.

A record number of nearly 600 students have entered the city’s essay contest on multiculturism, in an outpouring probably prompted by the Los Angeles riots, organizer Michael F. Eng said.

“The unrest was a wake-up call,” said Eng, an attorney and volunteer in the city’s November Harmony Month observance. “Sometimes the youth of the community are the first to hear it.”

The city’s essay contest, on “Why is living in a multicultural community important to your life,” is believed to be the only one of its kind in Los Angeles County, Eng said. The city has sponsored the contest for three years.

Winners, announced at Monday’s City Council meeting, received cash prizes totaling $250 donated by the law offices of Eng, Nishimura and Chu, or gift certificates donated by Champion Development Co.

The winners are:

Fifth and sixth grade: First place, Bich Ngoc Cao; second place, Jose Luis Calderon; third place, Karl Ma.

Seventh and eighth grade: First place, Stephen Dypiangco; second place, Elizabeth Lai; third place, Richard Atienza.

Ninth to 12th grade: First place, Michelle Lau; second place, Griscelda Perez; third place, Holly Thai.

Their essays included the following excerpts, printed with the spelling and punctuation of the writers:

“No one will argue that the colors of the rainbow are truly breathtaking and an extraordinary work of nature. We each have our own perceptions of which color is the most brilliant and beautiful. Yet, in actuality, all colors are beautiful as they shine in different lights. . . . The multicultural diversity of the United States is analagous to the spectrum of the rainbow. . . . We must burn the flame of racism before we can light the candle to harmony.” --Michelle Lau

“I’m thankful for my parents who help me to be aware of my background. To help me know who I am and who we are as a people. Through this understanding I realize that there is no one like me and that I expect others to accept me as I am. Because of this it gives me a wider and broader understanding of other people, respect and acceptance of what they are and who they are.” --Richard Atienza

“I live in Rosemead, where many residents come from different ethnic backgrounds. My parents are Vietnamese, although I was born here. . . . Things like our food and dialects may become objects of ridicule. . .That’s why living in a multicultural community helps us understand each other better because when we interact with each other, they realize that, actually, it’s against the law to eat dogs and cats in Vietnam, nor would we do it here. So there goes one myth about us.” --Bich Ngoc Cao

“When I first came to Monterey Park, I didn’t know anyone. My first best friend was Nathan Siu who is half-Chinese and half-Japanese. . . . My other friend is Leah Park who is Korean. . . . Last summer, we set up a restaurant at both of our houses, and we made Korean and Mexican food for our families. We called it Jose and Leah’s Famous Foods.” --Jose Luis Calderon