History Would’ve Burned This Page Challenge Winners

This challenge was about reclaiming the erased, the rewritten, and the overlooked.

The winning stories dig deep into forgotten histories and bring them to light with urgency and care. From resistance fighters and buried languages to personal reckonings and systemic silence, these writers didn’t just revisit the past, they made it speak.

Here are the ones we couldn’t forget.

🏆 $500 Grand Prize Winner: La Adelita by Gina C.

Gina C.'s grand prize story, 'La Adelita,' breathes life into the silenced voices of women soldiers with a haunting urgency that lingers. The narrative's blend of spectral presence and historical truth makes you feel like you're part of an overdue conversation with the past.

🥈 $200 Second Place: to be Black in america by Jada Ferguson

Jada Ferguson's second-place story keeps coming at you, loss after loss, with a voice that insists you listen. The rhythm and repetition make it impossible to ignore what history tried to bury.

🎖️ Runners-up: $15 Each

The Surprise by Judey Kalchik

Judey Kalchik's runner-up cleverly uses a child’s innocent perspective to unravel the horror of the Jesse Washington lynching, making the brutality feel disturbingly close and real.

Speak my Name by River and Celia in Underland

River and Celia's piece, "Speak My Name," makes the loss of a language feel both intimate and immense. This runner-up’s haunting voice turns silence into something that stays with you.

Going Steady by Deanna Cassidy

Deanna Cassidy's runner-up story, "Going Steady," quietly unsettles, showing how the ordinary can mask something deeply horrific.

Where the Sun Meets the Earth by A. J. Schoenfeld

A. J. Schoenfeld's narrative beautifully weaves family memory with history, showing how a simple song and a shared language can bridge divides and save lives.

Forged for Freedoms by Jessica Flayser

Jessica Flayser's runner-up piece makes Granny Joyce’s survival under Apartheid feel urgent and personal. It highlights the ingenuity behind identity with quiet power.

A man called Peggy by JBaz

JBaz's entry powerfully reclaims Francis Pegahmagabow’s story, revealing the quiet injustice behind a hero’s return.

The Missing Blunt Boy by D.K. Shepard

D.K. Shepard's runner-up account hits hard, blending George’s fight for identity with the author’s own reflection to make the history feel essential and close.

The Fisherman by Matthew Fromm

Matthew Fromm's "The Fisherman" stands out with its vivid WWII story and a conversation on hate that leaves a lasting impact.

Chevalière D’Eon by Rachel Robbins

Rachel Robbins unearths the layered life of Chevalière d’Eon, weaving historical context with a personal reflection that challenges the confines of language and identity.

Preventable by Becca Shaley

Becca Shaley's runner-up story honors silenced women, with Mary and Margaret’s bond bringing warmth and weight to overlooked history.

the maid of Orleans lives by John Cox

John Cox's narrative gives voice to Robert de Baudricourt in a letter that passionately defends Joan of Arc’s legacy, making her story feel urgent and alive.

"Janet Horne" — The Last Witch Executed in Scotland by Paul Stewart

Paul Stewart's runner-up account brings Janet Horne’s fate into sharp focus, showing how fear can strip away both reason and humanity.

HER by Jamie Callaghan

Jamie Callaghan's story makes Jara’s journey feel both mystical and familiar, echoing memory and identity across generations.

A Big Bang by Joe O’Connor

Joe O’Connor's entry on Georges Lemaître bridges faith and science with a story that feels sharp, timely, and full of insight.

In The 6ix: A Black Baker Rises to the Top by Marie Wilson

Marie Wilson's story revives William Peyton Hubbard’s legacy with warmth and purpose, making you root for his overdue recognition.

🏅 Honorable Mentions

As our challenges continue to grow, we are celebrating even more incredible writers with Honorable Mentions—a special spotlight for stories that stand out for their creativity, originality, or emotional impact. Writers who receive an Honorable Mention get a special badge that appears on their profile, showcasing their achievement and contributions to the Vocal community.

• Schicksals by Gerard DiLeo
• The Lioness of Brittany by Amy
• Μεσσίας/Χριστός by Randy Wayne Jellison-Knock
• Fossil in the Cliffs by Meredith Harmon
• Ida B. Wells...and Beyond... by Kendall Defoe
• Voted Out by Scott Christenson
• The Story of Our History... by J.W. Baird
• The First to Stand by Jason B. Baker
• Sunlight in a Window-Niche by Jennifer Christiansen
• A Horse, A Horse, My Kingdom for a Horse! by Elizabeth Butler

To explore more Challenges, please visit Vocal Challenges.