A boy frustrated with bullying at a school in Alpine posted a heartbreaking video on social media explaining how he's been treated.
Quaylon Bryant, 11, started attending the Joan McQueen Middle School at the beginning of the year. He told NBC 7 that's when he started being bullied and has become the target of hurtful words.
The sixth-grader said the treatment is because of his skin color.
He's decided to fight back, but not with his fists. Instead, he's spreading his message on social media. The boy recently posted a video, detailing his struggles as a victim of bullying.
"My grades were good, the teachers were nice. There was one thing I was missing: friendship. Friendship is nowhere found in that school. At least for me," Bryant said in the video, which has been widely shared this week.
He said he is being bullied and called names because of his race: "It's just a problem, man. It's not cool," he said.
Local
His words have resonated with many.
The video has been viewed more than 50,000 times and Quaylon has become a voice for many who have been the target of a bully.
"It's good to know that people are there for me," he said.
He, along with his parents, are hoping for change.
"As hard as it was to let him do that, I had to let him do that and express himself in that way and support him doing that," his father, Quaylon Bryant Sr., said.
The school district is aware of the boy's viral video.
The district, along with its superintendent, released a statement that said, in part: "I would like to reiterate that harassment, intimidation or bullying will not be tolerated."
His parents are working with the district to put some more programs in place to help integrate new students into the school. Bryant Sr. told NBC 7 he wants to keep Quaylon in the same school next year to continue this effort of stopping bullying altogether.
Quaylon is so eager to belong that he would like to spark change, to help ensure that no other child has to experience what he has.
