We have all witnessed or experienced it at one point or another – the act of bullying. Bullying is identified as the use of superior strength or influence to intimidate another person. Bullying occurs in many different spaces and affects individuals of all ages, but is most common and has a greater impact amongst school aged children. Over 3.2 million students across the country have been and or continue to be victims of bullying, and hundreds of thousands of students skip school to avoid its detrimental effects. When analyzing the effects bullying, studies show there are damaging affects for both the victim and the bully.
Victims of bullying are likely to experience depression, anxiety, feelings of loneliness and a decrease in academic achievement due to their increased desire of skipping school. Furthermore, bullies are likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs during adolescence, get into fights, and drop out of school. The effects of bullying have even caused victims to commit suicide and also murder their bully.
Noel Estevez, a 14-year old boy, from the Bronx, NY, is being charged with the murder of his alleged bully, Timothy Crump. In mid-June, towards the end of the school year, Estevez who has reportedly been teased, physically assaulted, and robbed by Crump, stabbed and killed Crump, his alleged bully, right outside of the school building. Sources report that Crump was known for taunting Estevez and making fun of his mother who was recently arrested. Even days before stabbing Crump to death, Estevz tried to commit suicide by hanging himself, but was unsuccessful. He returned to school after recovering from his failed suicide attempt and is now being tried as an adult for the murder of his bully Timothy Crump. Even though witnesses knew Estevez was a victim of bully it doesn’t seem like much was done to put the bullying to a stop. Further, Estevez was not connected with the right resources to receive the support he needed. Our young boys do not need to die senselessly or be sent to prison for situations that can be prevented or dealt with if children are consulted properly.
Kwadwo Bediako, a native of the Bronx, NY who was a victim of bullying as a child noticed that bullying continues to be problematic and affect the lives of many children. He and his partners sought to change the unfortunate narrative of students committing suicide and killing because of the effects of bullying by starting a program and campaign against bullying called Gully Face, Inc. The Gully Face campaign encourages individuals to use a facial expression, known as the Gully Face, as an act of strength against bullying. The Gully Face is more than a simple facial expression that charges victims of bullying with the power to act against bully; there is also a web and social media presence that offers support and raises awareness to victims as well as friends and families. On their website, there are stories of survivors and victims of bullying and a space where individuals can share personal accounts to empower others. Resources are available for victims of bullying to access whenever needed.
In addition to supporting victims and survivors of bullying, the Gully Face campaign is raising awareness about bullying to all people. On the Gully Face website, free wristbands are given away to those who support the anti-bullying campaign and who pledge to take a stand against all kinds of bullying.
Understand that bullying does not only occur in school, during the school year or between children. Anyone can be a victim of bullying, in every setting at anytime. Talk to your children about bullying and its detrimental effects. Don’t be a bystander of bullying. Join the Gully Face movement and stand up to bullying.
