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American Morning

Interview With Child Philanthropist

Aired December 31, 2001 - 09:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We are pleased to have Jibran Shermohammed and his father, Salim, with us here in the studio. Thanks for coming in.

SALIM SHERMOHAMMED: Thank you for having us.

JIBRAN SHERMOHAMMED, CHILD PHILANTHROPIST: Thank you.

HARRIS: Great to see both of you. That's a great story. That's a great story. How did you come up with that idea? Where did you steal that idea from?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Actually, I was at a grocery store and they have those blurbs at the grocery store that have people's names on it that donated money to charities. So I though if we had separate little flags that had people's names on it and we put it up in the cafeteria it would look nice, we'll donate money. So my teacher took the idea and like made it better and turned it into this giant flag.

HARRIS: So where did you come up with the figure of $4,000 in the first place? How did you figure you'd raise $4,000?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: I guess my teacher thought that if everybody bought at least like one piece for $3, then we'd get $4,000.

HARRIS: And you actually charged more for the stars, correct?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Yes.

HARRIS: How much were you charging for the stars?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: One hundred dollars.

HARRIS: One hundred dollars?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Yes.

HARRIS: Did they sell out pretty quickly?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Very quickly. In like, I think, three weeks they were all gone.

HARRIS: No kidding.

J. SHERMOHAMMED: No kidding.

HARRIS: And that surprised you. Well how did it feel to give the Red Cross that big check, then?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: It felt really good. I felt I actually achieved something.

HARRIS: Yeah? Did it change the school at all? Did it change the way the people feel at school?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Everybody was like giving the trusting pats on the back and stuff, saying that we did a good job.

HARRIS: Are you going to do something else like this?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Actually, now we're planning to go into classrooms and teaching the children about harassment and prejudice and abuse. And telling them that if they need help they could come to us, because we're like student counselors.

HARRIS: But is that a problem at your school, harassment?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: I don't think so, but there's some prejudices at our school, and we're trying to get rid of those prejudices.

HARRIS: That's interesting. Salim, how did you feel about this?

SALIM SHERMOHAMMED: I feel -- I feel very confident that this school is -- has offered such a program, which gives them understanding of diversity. And I think with this kind of program, they will be able to -- I think they will be able to eliminate a lot of issues -- what are current issues -- and when they grow up, I don't think they will be able -- they will have to deal with what we are dealing with now.

HARRIS: Well, was that a problem, though, before September 11, in your community?

S. SHERMOHAMMED: No, we never had such a particular incident that our -- that our particular family -- just for one small incident.

HARRIS: Well that's good to hear.

S. SHERMOHAMMED: Yeah. And this is -- I guess it's a matter of a little bit less education -- or I should not use the word ignorance, but people are not really well aware of other cultures. So I guess that is a thing. We need to create more awareness.

HARRIS: So let me ask you then, do you see yourselves -- or do you, as a family, do you sit down and talk about that, about the idea of you perhaps being ambassadors because of what happened on September 11? Do you feel as though you have to be more -- I don't know, outgoing, to engage people, to keep them from thinking these negative things?

S. SHERMOHAMMED: I think we -- we need to be more realistic. Instead of being proactive and start preaching anything, I think what we do is we just stay natural and try to blend with the society. And I guess we accept ourselves as a member of society. There is no differences. We don't feel any different, so we don't see this as a big problem. And I guess people who don't know this, we need to give awareness. And I guess this is a very good platform...

HARRIS: Yes.

S. SHERMOHAMMED: ... this diversity program, which will create a lot of awareness. And we believe the schools is doing, and has done, a great job.

HARRIS: Well, Jibran, do you see other schools or other kids outside of your school paying attention to this sort of thing that's happened inside your school?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Well, like when I talk to my friends about it, lots of them say they wish they had some type of program like this, because their friends have problems such as the kinds we have in our school. So our teachers are saying that they're thinking of spreading the program to other schools, so other schools also have it.

HARRIS: Yes. Well, you seem to be a pretty -- I don't know, pretty self-confident kid. How come -- I say that because I don't think too many kids your age would react as -- I don't know, as self- confidently as you do, when you say things like you did in that piece. That kids were saying to you things like, just because you're, you know, Middle Eastern, that perhaps you're not really an American. I mean, how did that make you feel when you hear something like that?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Well, I felt really weird. I felt like I didn't belong here, you know? So I went and talked to my friends about it and they calmed me down and told me that didn't mean anything. That guy just didn't know what he was saying. And he came and said sorry to me after a little bit.

HARRIS: Yeah. Well good for you for sticking up for yourself and being proud of yourself.

As I understand it, we're talking here about citizenship -- U.S. citizenship -- sometime soon for -- for you all?

S. SHERMOHAMMED: Sure. We are in the process.

HARRIS: Yes?

S. SHERMOHAMMED: So we are looking forward to that.

HARRIS: Very good. Is that a New Year's resolution for you all?

S. SHERMOHAMMED: Well, just make it better.

HARRIS: Yeah? OK. Do you have a New Year's resolution?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Well...

HARRIS: You don't?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: No.

HARRIS: OK. We'll talk about that once the cameras get turned off, OK, because your sister's watching, OK?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: OK.

HARRIS: You'll make her jealous. All right?

J. SHERMOHAMMED: OK.

HARRIS: Jibran and Salim Shermohammed, thank you very much. We wish you both a happy new year and a very prosperous year to come.

S. SHERMOHAMMED: Thank you for having us. Thank you for having us.

J. SHERMOHAMMED: Thank you.

HARRIS: Good luck to both of you.

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