No Gang for These

Brilliant black youngsters deserve recognition. Their achievements are often overlooked when the focus is on gang members, dropouts and teen mothers, or the spotlight is on athletes. But intelligence and creativity win the medals at the Olympics of the mind sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Scientists, artists and poets compete nationally in 21 categories including chemistry, biology, computer science, architecture, creative writing, dramatics and music. The high school students travel from 350 cities to the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics held at the annual NAACP convention. Every competitor deserves accolades.

Southern California traditionally does well. Students from the King-Drew Magnet School in Willowbrook have won the gold medal for chemistry two years in a row. Students from Compton High School have won medals for play-writing, art and poetry.

Seventy local winners hope to compete in Washington in July. Expenses will be paid with the help of corporations. The support is well-earned. ACT-SO competitors, among America’s best and brightest, deserve every chance to excel.