Ghanaian-American comedian Michael Blackson has taken his fight against bullying directly to schools, launching an outreach programme aimed at encouraging students to speak up against harassment and protect one another following the death of 15-year-old Ghanaian student Javits Frimpong in New York.
The initiative draws on Blackson’s own painful encounters with bullying as a teenager, particularly his experiences as an African student in the United States. Through visits to high schools, he hopes to share his story and help young people, especially those from immigrant families, recognise the importance of speaking out when they experience or witness bullying.
Javits lost his life on Thursday, October 29, 2026, after being attacked while making his way to school in the Bronx. His death has left many concerned about the safety of students and brought fresh attention to the dangers of bullying within school communities.
The tragedy prompted Blackson to revisit an experience he had carried from his younger years. Two days after Javits’ death, the comedian took to Instagram to speak about the hostility he encountered while attending Broadway Junior High School in North Newark, New Jersey.
He recalled being assaulted by a boy who was not a student at his school while he was boarding a bus to return home. Blackson explained that his experience was partly linked to being the only African student at the school, making him a target of hostility.
Rather than keeping the experience to himself, he decided to use it as a starting point for conversations with students about bullying, its consequences and how young people can respond when confronted with such behaviour.
Blackson has since moved beyond announcing his intentions, beginning the school outreach at John Bartram High School in Philadelphia, an institution he once attended.
In an Instagram post announcing his visit, the comedian thanked the school’s principal, Brian Johnson, for embracing the idea and providing the support needed to get the programme underway.
He also called on his followers to suggest other high schools he could visit, signalling his intention to extend the engagement to more students and communities.
The initiative has received positive reactions from fans, with many commending Blackson for using his personal history and the painful circumstances surrounding Javits’ death to promote a message of awareness and responsibility.
