Michael Blackson, Sarkodie, Cardi B, Others Mourn Javits Frimpong

Comedian, Michael Blackson, rapper Sarkodie and American music star, Cardi B, are among celebrities who have reacted to the killing of 15-year-old Ghanaian student Javits Frimpong in the Bronx, New York, expressing grief and raising concerns about bullying and youth violence.

Cardi B, who grew up in the Bronx, condemned the treatment of immigrant children in New York schools, saying newcomers were often bullied by their peers.

“Everybody be bullying the new kids that come from foreign countries, that be coming from Africa or from DR (Dominican Republic). Everybody bullies them, even their own kind,” she said during an Instagram Live session.

The rapper, who questioned what could drive young people to take another person’s life, also linked bullying to gang involvement, drawing from her own childhood experiences.

“What does bullying make you do? That makes you want to join a gang,” she said, adding that she would never raise her children in the Bronx or enroll them in a New York public school.

Michael Blackson, meanwhile, said Javits’ death brought back painful memories of his experience as a young African immigrant in Newark, New Jersey, where he was bullied and once punched because of his good grades.

“This story broke my heart this morning. I remember being that age my first time in America when I lived in Newark NJ, I was bullied and once punched in the face because I had good grades,” he wrote.

The comedian, who said the teenager reminded him of himself, added: “This 15-year-old kid couldn’t wait to come to America and now a year later he’s dead. This has to stop.”

He announced plans to visit high schools to speak to foreign-born students about dealing with bullying.

Sarkodie also expressed concern about the values being instilled in young people, calling on parents to take greater responsibility.

“I honestly don’t know what kind of upbringing shapes children to become so evil. I think some of my fellow Black brothers and sisters out there need to do better when it comes to raising their children and instilling the right values in them,” he wrote.

The rapper added, “It’s very unfortunate that we had to lose Javits this way. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

Bronx rapper, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, also honoured Javits during a concert at UBS Arena in New York, asking the audience to observe a moment of silence.

“He just came here from Africa to America about a year ago, and he passed away due to a gunshot wound. So let’s give a moment of silence to him,” he told the audience.

Javits was shot shortly before 9.30am on Thursday, October 29, near East 171st Street in the Claremont area of the Bronx while on his way to school. He later died at the hospital.

He moved from Ghana to the United States a year ago to join his father, Thomas Frimpong, and attended DreamYard Preparatory School.

His father said the teenager had previously complained of bullying at school and reported incidents involving other students. However, police have not confirmed whether bullying was connected to the shooting.

Authorities are searching for three teenage suspects aged between 16 and 18, who were last seen wearing black clothing and blue surgical masks.