Baton Rouge Magnet High School student Niles Haymer II said he had an idea that his speech, titled “What Leadership Means To Me,” would grab the attention of judges in a national oratorical contest because he felt so strongly about each word he chose.
“I really felt the words of that speech,” he said.
The contest judges felt them, too. The 16-year-old’s speech won the 100 Black Men of America’s inaugural Oratorical Competition in New York City.
Using the national organization’s theme, “Rooted in Mission. Strengthened by Unity. Shaping the Future,” Haymer’s speech challenged his Gen Z generation to embrace leadership by serving others, standing together and confidently declaring: “We are the leaders of the future.”
“Leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about believing in what you’re saying enough that people want to listen. That’s what I tried to bring to this speech,” Haymer said.
He credits his passion for public speaking to his being a mentee in the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge’s Project Excel. The program focuses on sixth- to 12th-grade Black male students, teaching them essential life skills, improving academic outcomes and developing citizenship skills.
Haymer stresses the importance of the preparation he received from his oratory coach, Jeremey L. Blunt, an empowerment speaker with 100 Black Men.
In 2025, Haymer also represented the local organization on its African American History Challenge Team. He was named the winner of the Baton Rouge Bar Association’s Law Day Essay Contest.
His parents, Niles and Shermaine Haymer, say their son is passionate about leadership, service and using his voice to make a positive impact on his community and Baton Rouge High.
