Most Americans say they or a family member has experienced gun violence, according to a 2023 KKF Health study. Ray Strickland wanted to capture the grief of losing a loved one to gun violence in his song “Time for Change.” Check out his performance of the song that won him the 2023 Teen Talent Competition.
The song was inspired by the then-high school senior’s experiences grieving loved ones lost to gun violence.
“It’s a cancer, and it needs to change,” Strickland said.
The song was initially inspired by the death of Strickland’s cousin in 2020. He wanted to inspire a solution to systemic gun violence.
Two years later, Strickland found himself again witnessing tremendous loss when a shooting took place at his school— the Central Visual Performing Arts High School.
On October 24, 2022, a gunman killed 15-year-old CVPA student Alexzandria Bell and teacher Jean Kuczka. He injured others before being shot and killed by police.
At Bell’s funeral, Strickland heard her mother’s cries. He was reminded of his own grieving family. The cycle of gun violence struck him. He added new lines like “Just the other day, I heard a mother cry” to emphasize the pain left behind for the grieving families.
Gun violence skyrocketed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and became the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“And when people listen to this song, I want them to realize this is reality,” Strickland said. “You may not hear the gunshots in the middle of the night, you may not hear the mother cry, but that might be my every day.”
Watch this year’s annual Teen Talent Competition, from The Fox Performing Art Charitable Foundation, when it airs on Monday, May 6 at 7 pm, Saturday, May 11 at 7 pm, and Sunday, May 12 at 5 pm on Nine PBS and livestream.
Contributed by Molly Hart, social media coordinator.
The 2024 broadcast is supported by Grand Center Arts Academy and Holland College of Arts & Media.