THE 16TH ANNUAL
2026-27 AFRICAN AMERICAN & LATINO/A
TENACITY CHALLENGE
2026-2027 PROMPT
RACIAL IDENTITY OR OTHER INFLUENCES, WHAT SHAPES THE VOTE?
A voter's race is not a definitive predictor of who he/she/they will vote for in an election. For example, 43% of white Americans voted for Harris and 13% of African Americans voted for Trump in 2024.
However, among African Americans and Latinos, it was a very strong predictor in 2012. That year, Barack Obama received approximately 93% of the Black vote and 71% of the Latino vote. Black voter turnout reached 66.2%, the highest recorded rate at that time and, according to Census Bureau estimates, the first presidential election in which the percentage of the Black electorate that voted exceeded the percentage of the white electorate.
The High School Tenacity Challenge
is April 3, 2027!
Twelve years later, the voting patterns were different. In 2024, Black voter turnout was lower than in 2012. Research estimates that 83% of Black voters supported Kamala Harris and 15% supported Donald Trump. Among Latino voters, Harris received 51% of the vote, down from Obama's 74% in 2012. 48% of Latino voters supported Trump in 2024.
Is this dramatic change attributable to the candidates themselves, Obama vs Romney in 2012, Harris vs. Trump in 2024, and/or to other factors? To what degree did race play a role?
We’re thrilled to announce that we are now officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization under the Boston Bridge Initiative (BBI)! This exciting milestone marks a new chapter in our journey, and we are deeply grateful for the support and generosity of BBI, whose partnership makes our mission possible.
About the
Tenacity Challenge
The Latino/a and African American Tenacity Challenge is an annual academic scholarship competition for teams of Latinx and African-American students from urban and suburban high schools across Massachusetts. Recommended team size is 6 (may not be larger than 6) students allowing for several members of each team to "specialize" in an area of the challenge preparation. During the extended period of preparation, students build academic capacity, strengthen intellectual risk-taking and develop enduring peer and faculty relationships.
Tenacity Challenge Video
The Competition
The Tenacity Challenge competition will consist of four events centered around the theme of tenacity and leadership. The competition will take place on April 3, 2027. Each team will determine its own division of labor in order to prepare for the four events:
- Math Quiz Bowl Challenge (SAT Math) (There will be no Science component to the 2026 Tenacity Challenge)
- Literature Response Challenge (A creative videotaped response to a work of literature written by an African American or Latino/a author)
- History Argument Challenge (Team will research and argue a position before a panel of judges)
- Tenacity Art Challenge- (artistic creation completed prior to the competition date and submitted online)
A range of points will be earned for each event (see rubrics). The highest scoring teams for each event will be recognized with certificates or trophies. The winners of the overall competition (highest cumulative points) will win scholarships. Each member
of the first place team will win a $1,000 scholarship; second place, a $700 scholarship; third place, a $400 scholarship and 4th place
a $150 scholarship.
