Black and Purple






Black and Purple had a very interesting beginning. Braiden, (one of my co-writers), and
I had both experienced some pretty terrible bullying during our middle school and
early high school years. I was a very small, shy and quiet girl...and Braiden was just the
opposite, tall, outgoing and gregarious.

Both of us were targets.

We came from homes where we were loved and valued, but as kids who have been
bullied will tell you ... that all goes out the window when you get into school ...and it
starts to happen. A bullied kid feels powerless. I remember being shocked that kids
were saying mean and terrible things to me and about me ...and Braiden remembered
feeling just the exact same way. At home, everyone thought that we were okay.

We had been talking about our experiences during a sleepover...and we suddenly
decided to write a song.

From that moment things seemed to just burst wide open! The Canadian Red Cross
heard the song and took it on as the theme song for their anti-bullying program called
RespectED. We began to tour schools and speak to auditoriums full of students about
the effects of bullying.

This September we are touring Western Canada, and organizers tell Braiden and I that
we will be performing and speaking to over 5000 students about bullying.

Black and Purple was written from the perspective of a bully, and as we've learned
everyone is a loser in this situation, the bully and the bullied. Both are more likely to
become involved in drug and/or alcohol abuse; both are more likely to be abusers later
in life and subject to depression and a host of other problems.

We were lucky. We both had music, family and friends in our corner, and that has made
the difference for us.

I don't think that one really ever, ever gets over the bullying experience, and that's why
we can remember it as if it were yesterday, and try to help others today.


Click here to see our Black and Purple English PSA.

Click here to our Black and Purple French PSA.













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Click here to read the latest
article on the Black and
Purple RespectED Tour!
Read the interviews with
Brea and Braiden         
www.standup2bullying.com
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www.blackandpurplecampaign.com