Easton's Boys & Girls Club has announced the start of its annual Future Stars Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay & Arts Contest, which challenges children in grades 3-12 to write or create art about influential figures in black American life.

This year's contest honors Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court.

In addition to people like Marshall and Harriet Tubman, the club is also hoping the students will explore the lives of artists like Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston to talk about how drug use led to their early deaths.

"Ideally young people can tell us a little about the legacy of these stars and how their stories give credence to the importance of being drug free," club Executive Director Dean Young said in a news release.

We've included a PDF of the complete contest rules and essay topics for each grade level.

For more information, contact Young Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. at 610 253-5846.

The entries are due Saturday, March 31, 2012, 5:00pm