by: Gabrielle Miller
Carver High School, Aldine ISD

“I was bullied for 2 years by my best friend. She called me fat and stupid and ugly and told me all these nasty things and I started to believe them. When I would confront her about it, she would say she was “just kidding,” but she continued to bully me. I developed an eating disorder and started cutting too. I felt so alone, alone to the point where I almost attempted suicide.”                   ~Lauryn, 15

Today’s children are facing an epidemic. Each second it grows because millions of children are waiting. They are waiting because their screams have been unheard. They are facing predicaments because of the complexities of them being muted. Continuously they try to forget about the pain and them being knocked down. Since those who they imagined would realize their bruises and scars, tears and emotional changes have failed to do their part. So every day a child slips within our society of statistics.
We can always predict what is capable of succeeding, but those predicaments are only figments of our imagination. It is because as human beings; teenagers, teachers, and parents we have ignored the biggest leading cause of death amongst children; bullying. It is by the words that we have allowed to negatively caress the tip of our tongues and graciously roll off the edge of our lips. It is the way we suffocate another with what we are convinced is love; through the brutal face punches as blood flows amongst their torn bodies. The aggressive holdings as they ponder about where they could be and what they should have done at first. It is even through technology; cyber bullying. We say things that we believe are harmless, but we not knowingly give an individual a stool to take their last step, pills to take their last grasp of breath, or even water that warms their body but drowns their spirit.  It has been estimated that 500,000 teenagers try to kill themselves every year because of bullying, and about 5,000 succeed. That’s right up there with cancer and homicide.
“You hear about what is happening in the schools and it’s sad. I’m doing what I can as an entertainer because I realize how much of an impact musicians really have on kids. They watch and mimic everything we do. So why not put something positive out there, let them imitate that? I feel like it’s my responsibility to produce good music with a good message,” stated C.J. Miller of Ball and Chain.
When facing situations every issue becomes unpredictable. Therefore, as a generation we struggle as a whole to reach reality. However, an organization known as Ball and Chain Entertainment, is reaching out to those who feel as though they have been disconnected, lost, or even at a disadvantage. This production group is looking to evolve the mindsets of today’s generation. They are working to motivate all walks of life. It is through their entertainment, music, were they are looking to connect with today’s teenagers. CEO, C.J Miller of Prairie View A&M University, of Ball and Chain “are on a mission to spread a positive message about stopping the violence, bullying, and abuse”. They are the exact voices that we need in today’s society. They are speaking volumes that need to be heard. They are impacting millions around the world as they campaign a new movement. Most importantly, they are making a difference. The difference is with them caring, taking a stand, and speaking out to their community like never before. Their movement is allowing a change and difference. They are giving children a chance to endure what they thought was impossible. Giving children seconds back that they assumed were lost and unable to be captured. With Ball and Chain today’s generation no longer has to fight to forget about what is no longer being heard.  “People need to hear this and we’ll do whatever we have to do to make sure that it happens. We’re going to the schools, we’re going to the hospitals, we’re going to the streets—we’re going where ever the people are,” says Miller. “We can’t keep waiting, the time is now!”