NYC Fifth Graders Write Rap Song To Combat Bullying
NEW YORK (WCBS 880/1010 WINS/CBS 2) - In many cases, bullying can lead to suicide among young people. In Brooklyn, though, there's some encouraging news, as some inspiring kids are fighting to stop the trend.
Longtime friends Jeremiah Hyde and Nairan St. Phard, both 11 years old, were the winners of the first anti-bullying video contest launched by the Kings County District Attorney's Office. Fifth graders from all over Brooklyn submitted entries, and a panel of assistant district attorneys chose the rap video put together by Nairan and Jeremiah as the winner.
LINK: Watch Their Winning Video
The pair said they've seen lots of bullying, and they know all about the consequences, reports CBS 2's Cindy Hsu.
"People actually kill themselves over people that are harassing them about non-true things, about name-calling and a whole bunch of cyber-bullying," Jeremiah said.
Podcast
WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reports
Their proud fathers have been friends since childhood, and they say the anti-bullying message needs to start at home.
"The fathers are not involved, they're not talking to their children, and these kids are looking for some strong figure to stand by them," Nairan's father, Hans St. Phard, said. "If they don't get it, they'll get it in a gang, they'll get it in other bullies, and they'll find security in that."
Podcast
1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reports
While the young anti-bully advocates have now been honored by District Attorney Charles Hynes, and have been rapping together for years, their future careers are off stage.
"I was thinking of either being a professional basketball player or a veterinarian," Jeremiah said. "I watch a lot of Animal Planet, and I see a lot of harsh things that people actually do to animals, so I'd like to become a veterinarian."
"I wanted to become a professional basketball player too, but Mr. Hynes convinced me to be a lawyer if basketball doesn't work out," Nairan said.
As winners, Nairan and Jeremiah will both get to serve as district attorney for a day.
Students submitted 23 videos this year, but the district attorney's office plans to make it an annual contest and is hoping to get even more entries next year.
