Issue 8: Colorism and Black History Month

Amerikkkan Exceptionalism

My skin is a terrorist threat and my words as well because skin color is seen as a weapon in itself in this country. The deep tone of my skin is more threatening than all the skittles, hairbrushes, wallets, Wii remotes, cellphones, pill bottles, and iPods that those meant to serve and protect “mistook” for…

Daphne Lee on being a Professional Dancer and Pursuing an MFA in Dance

The guest for this episode is Daphne Lee. Daphne Lee is a professional dancer with The Dance Theatre of Harlem, a graduate of Hollins University where she earned her MFA in Dance, an advocate, an ambassador, and much more. Listen to this podcast to hear more about her story, advice, and how she got to…

Black Girl Magic Museum Review

Who doesn’t love a little magic? Well, how about some Black Girl Magic? Got your attention? Then I have something fabulous to share with you. I had the recent opportunity to get the full experience of a pop-up museum in Mesquite, Texas, part of the Dallas Metro.

Charting Your Own Path as a Creative with Stephanie Bell

The guest for this episode is Stephanie Bell. Stephanie Bell is a media producer and journalist who specializes in photography and video production. Listen to this podcast to hear more about her story, advice, and how she got to where she is today.

To be Fair or Dark, that is the Question! Colorism in Bollywood

The Bollywood Industry holds talented and amazing actors who engage with their audience throughout India. However, the majority of the successful celebrities in the Indian film industry tend to be light-skinned. Dark-skinned actors do not get as many chances to show their talent in Bollywood solely because of the color of their skin. This is…

Black History Month Playlist

Happy Black History Month! To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of songs by our favorite Black artists. Music has defined many aspects of Black culture and it’s important to recognize all the genres Black people and culture have contributed to. We promise you’ll feel empowered, teary-eyed, liberated, and every other emotion while listening. Who’s your…

Girl of the Month: Maya Whites

Maya Whites is the Girl of the Month for our 8th issue! Maya is a senior at The Brearley School. She is the Co-Head of Umoja and on the Advisory Board. She also is the Host and Founder of the podcast: Independently Black. Listen to this podcast to hear more about Maya’s story and about…

Issue 8: Letter From the Editor

Hello and welcome to Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine’s 8th issue! Happy Black History Month! 🤎🤎🤎 What is Black History Month?Black History Month was started in 1915 and it gives us the opportunity to celebrate and share Black culture and achievements. It is a month where we educate ourselves on Black history and heritage, a time to…

Issue 7: College

A Perspective: An Alternative to College w/ Jada Jones

Today’s guest for this episode is Jada Jones. Jada is a YouTuber, podcaster, actor, dancer, and singer. Today we are talking about the different paths and options besides attending college and Jada’s experience. Come hear her journey and advice for those considering this path.

Being Black: My Experience Applying to College

Applying to college as a young Black woman during a pandemic has been an experience, to say the least. Before going into this process, I thought I would have ample time to visit the colleges I was interested in and importantly, speak to current—specifically Black—students about their experience at that college in regards to diversity,…

A Letter to the Doubtful Freshman

Dear Excited Yet Nervous Freshman, You’ve worked for this moment your entire life, and it’s finally here. Standing in the halls of academia you experience euphoria. The marble columns and founder’s statue gazing down on you, you feel peace at last. Your war of work is finally over, with you claiming victory. But as you…

Day In The Life As A ROTC Student While In A Pandemic

If you think being a college student during a pandemic is hard, how about being in a Reserve Officer Training Corps, ROTC, program while attending college and you are only a freshman. Here is some background information before I get into my day. ROTC is tough to balance when it comes with school and trying…

College Advice for Dance Majors

Want to get some advice about being a dance major in college? Reilly Wiggins is a Junior Dance Major at Sam Houston State University. In this video, she gives some advice about being a dance major.

Q&A: What it’s like to be on a college campus during a pandemic?

On August 26, I moved into my college dorm. I was surprised to make it that far. The entire week, I half-expected Wellesley to cancel, to say that there were too many cases in the country and we had to go back home. When I moved in that day, I was required to quarantine in…

New Year/Winter Spotify Playlist

You know what time it isss! Happy New Year! Looking for new music to start your year off right? Want to find a new artist to listen to allll of 2021? Well, do we have just the thing for you: Our New Years/Winter playlist! We’re starting this year off with good vibes and good vibes…

Girl of the Month: Drew Townsel

Drew Townsel is the Girl of the Month for our 7th issue! Drew is the Founder & CEO of Intersect Magazine and a freshman at Loyola Marymount University. She also works with Sony Music U and has an internship with 10k Projects. Listen to our interview with Drew on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or watch…

Issue 7: Letter From the Editor

Hello and welcome to Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine’s 7th issue! Happy New Year! It is finally 2021. 2020 for me, felt like the longest year ever while simultaneously feeling like it went by so quickly. Looking back on it, I can’t believe it’s 2021! 2020 was a difficult year for many people in a variety of…

Issue 6: The 2020 Election

First Time Voter Vlog | 2020 Election

This year in April, I turned 18; this meant I had the opportunity to vote in the 2020 Election! I was so excited, and this moment was one of the things I was looking forward to this year especially because this was such an important election in the history of our country. On November 3,…

“Voting is not only our right—it is our power”

A vote can seem like a meaningless ballot in a sea of millions of people, voices, and opinions. It can almost seem like it doesn’t matter and won’t affect those around you. With today’s divided political climate and tense atmosphere, opting out of voting may seem like the best option. Many people share these thoughts…

Being Black: The College Process pt.2

The college process is in full swing for the class of 2021. November 1st was the last day for seniors to submit their ED application and with that deadline, lots of stress and anxiety imbued the minds of many. For Black students, there seems to be an added emotional weight, pressure to do especially well…

Kaleidoscope Teen Spotify Playlist: KTM Staff Top Picks

Let’s be honest–– We all have that one playlist. A playlist filled with throwbacks, uplifters, movie soundtracks, and that one song we can not get out of our head . Here at Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine, we value the power of good music and wanted to share our current favorites songs and artists. We will update…

Issue 6: Letter From the Editor

Hello, and welcome to Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine’s sixth issue! We just witnessed one of the most important elections in American history. Before the results of this election was released a lot of us were unsure if America will either regress, stay the same, or make progress forward. This is why voting is very important. Many…

Issue 5: Wellness and Mental Health

Give yourself a break. It’s a pandemic.

It’s October 21. How have we made it this far? Amongst a pandemic, an intense election season, racial tensions, and irreparable damage to the climate, American students have survived. This school year has been especially challenging for our mental health, as we navigate the normal worries of starting school again amongst the new obstacles that…

Break the Stigma: Mental Heath in Communities of Color

In many communities of color, mental health is seen as a taboo or a controversial topic. Families push an idea of resilience and perseverance as a way to overcome mental health issues. Stigmatism towards mental health causes people of color to believe they are exempt from mental health issues as weaknesses or failures.

Girl of the Month: Josie Helm

Josie Helm is the Girl of the Month for our 5th issue! Josie is a Junior in High school at The Brearley School in New York City. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Students Demanding Change (BSDC).”BSDC is dedicated to fostering a centralized community space where Black students feel heard, supported, and…

Land of the Free

Kaepernick can’t kneel to spread awareness, but when George is slowly suffocated and murdered at the knee of a cop, y’all could care less and then continue to attempt to silence us when we protest. There’s a reason for unrest and we will not rest until something is done. I mean, no offense, but the…

Being Black: The College Process

As the college process for students from the class of 2021 begins, it is time to also think about how this grueling task impacts Black students. Issues such as affirmative action and guidance counselor’s care towards their Black student’s success arise as they seek the equal and impartial chances that their white classmates seem to…

Issue 5: Letter from the Editor

Hello, and welcome to Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine’s fifth issue! Thank you for coming along with us on this journey. We’ve made it to our fifth issue, and with every issue, we have made positive changes to this online magazine, through the layout, format, content, and more. This issue’s theme is Mental Health and Wellness.

Issue 4: The Arts

Buy Black

While August, also known as support Black-owned businesses month, may be over, the Black community remains the blueprint for much of mainstream fashion and paying that back is still necessary. Plus, there are some really sick Black-owned fashion brands!

Girl of the Month: 20 Questions with Destiny Wimpye

KTM’s Girl of the Month for Issue 4 is Destiny Wimpye! She is a 16-year-old ballet dancer. You’ve probably seen her amazing dance photos on Instagram and her exceptional videos of her turning on pointe. Destiny is a Brown Girls Do Ballet and Discount Dance Ambassador, an AS Dancewear Mentee, and an advocate for representation…

kashmani: A Dream Come True

Khadira is an incoming junior at a New York high school. This year, she launched kashmani, a fashion brand that includes everything from clothing to deco stickers. Her products are handmade, upcycled, and reworked, and I can personally tell you, everything from her brand is amazing. Khadira has always been into the arts, specifically visual…

Interview with the Creator of ArtHub NYC: Skye Jackson Williams

After seeing the lack of dance studios in New York that give artists the tools and resources to expand on their work, improve, and collaborate Skye Jackson Williams created ArtHub NYC. Skye is an 18 year old artist and aspiring entrepreneur. Continue reading this article to read the interview we had with Skye that discusses…

Acting, Stage Crew, and Directing: An Interview with Tazrean Hossain

Tazrean is an incoming freshman at Wellesley College. Throughout her time in high school, she performed in many school productions such as Twelfth Night and Indecent. In addition to on-stage acting, she has worked on the stage crew and was able to become an assistant director during her senior year.

The Photographer Behind The Color of Dance Project

Who is the photographer behind The Color of Dance Project? Her name is Tiana Kargbo, and she recently moved to New York City after earning her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a dance photographer, and her newest project is The Color of Dance…

Ballet: A Late Start

Oftentimes in the ballet world, individuals are “born into dance”. They pick it up at a young age and continue to enhance their abilities by carrying it with them as they grow. I have always had a love for ballet. Watching dancers elegantly prance across the stage has never failed to amaze me. I can…

Issue 4: The Arts

Hello, and welcome to Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine’s fourth issue! This issue’s theme is The Arts. In this issue, we will be talking about the different art forms, black-owned clothing, jewelry businesses, & more. KTM will also be sharing personal experiences and interviews with many young artists.

Issue 3: We Will NOT Be Silent

We Are The Change with Madalyn Salkowsky

Hi and welcome to Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine’s podcast. My name is Madalyn Salkowsky and I am a human being. First I’d like to start off by saying how proud I am of you for tuning into this podcast and wanting to further your knowledge on some problems in the world today. This podcast will be…

Asian-American Allyship 101: Together We Must Stand

In this episode, we will talk about the importance of solidarity between people of color in order to dismantle the roots of all of this: white supremacy. We will place the Black Lives Matter movement in the context of everything else happening in the world right now, and learn to stop playing the Oppression Olympics.

Asian-American Allyship 101: So You Want to Be an Ally…Now What?

In this episode, we will break down what it really means to be an ally as an Asian-American. Now that we know the history of prejudice between Asian-Americans and Black-Americans and understand why the arguments made against allyship aren’t valid

Asian-American Allyship 101: George Floyd and Tou Thao – A Story Rooted in White Supremacy

In this episode, we will unpack the relationship between the Asian-American and Black-American communities, investigating the history of anti-Asian racism and anti-blackness. In doing so, we will understand what happened with George Floyd and Tou Thao and how our past and present continues to be rooted in white supremacy. This episode will give you the…

absence

rage met me when i was molting. i was pubescent. sensitive and aching for wholeness but rage was there to arm me i defended my fresh layer of skin my tender breasts my lengthening legs i tucked blades into my body hair protecting the blackness i often ignored before i met rage.

Juneteenth: African American Independence

I would like to begin with an excerpt from a famous speech given by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852.What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the…

NYC: Time for Change

Before I start I want to get a couple of things straight. One: you cannot pick and choose what you love about black culture. Two: just because you have black friends, that doesn’t mean you are not racist. Three: Do not just value black culture such as music, art, sports and fashion when it’s advantageous…

In Support of Black Lives Matter

I recently revisited this photo that I took in Washington on January 21st, 2017, the day after Trump’s inauguration and the day of the Women’s March on Washington. In it are the Mothers of the Movement, the mothers of Jordan Davis, Eric Garner, Mohamed Bah, Trayvon Martin, and Dontre Hamilton. I vividly remember watching them…

The Book of Forbidden Fruits and Punishments

He sat there waiting for his arrival His parents hating him already, wishing he was sacrificial His heart so pure and full of hope Yet he doesn’t know he’s already behind because his mom was smoking dope He’s ready to have big dreams Yet he doesn’t know his dad has already left the scene

Let’s Get Reading: 18 Books to Get You Started

I compiled a list for myself that I would like to share that consists of autobiographies, fiction, and nonfiction books. If you would like to learn more about the black experience and why the social climate in America, as it pertains to racism, bias, and prejudice is the way it is, this list is for…

The Unconventional Trial

It seems like everything that already happened is happening again. The circumstances we are forced to be in. The probability of death? High Is there a solution? Not the concern. Living under a life of constant struggle.

Issue 3: We Will NOT Be Silent

Originally I was going to make the theme for this issue about intersectionality. But when George Floyd was murdered I felt like we needed to use our platform to talk about this NOW. The utter disregard of black lives has been a problem since we were snatched up from the continent of Africa and placed…

Issue 2: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Being Asian-American During the COVID-19 Crisis: Tackling Xenophobia and Racism

For the majority of my life, as a Chinese-American teen living in a city as diverse as New York, I have been fortunate enough to never feel the need to fear how my identity is perceived by others. As a proud daughter of Chinese immigrants, I learned to wear my Chinese heritage on my sleeve,…

Colorism: The Media’s Impact on People of Color with Alisha Joseph

Hey everybody! For KTM’s first podcast, we will be talking about colorism and the media’s contribution to colorism. Feel free to leave comments down below and thank you for listening in advance. Follow us on IG @KaleidoscopeTeen and stay tuned for more podcasts.

The Model Minority Myth: Malicious and Minimizing

As Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close, it is time for us to not only celebrate Asian achievements, but to also recognize how as a society we have failed their community by labeling them the “model minority,” often discounting them as people of color, and in turn, minimizing their experiences.

Girl of the Month: Christine Xu

This issue’s Girl of the Month is Christine Xu. She is a sophomore at The Chapin School and is the Founder and President of Gens Connect. Gens Connect connects teens and senior citizens through phone calls to help them with social isolation and promotes bonding between the generations. Below is the interview I had with…

Issue 2: Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Issue 2 of Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine!!! Every issue going forward will have a theme that will guide the content for that month. Since May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month…

Issue 1:

Girl of the Month: Ashfah Alam

Our first girl of the month is Ashfah Alam. She is a Junior at The Chapin School and is the co-founder of The Reach Project. The Reach Project is an organization that “provides access to extracurricular activities for low-income students in the Bronx.”

“Don’t Touch My Hair”

In the black community, there are a few things that we hold dear to us, most importantly our culture. Hair is a topic that members of a black family, male or female, constantly talk about and think about…

Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine! Kaleidoscope Teen Magazine is a online magazine and a digital platform for and by teen girls of color. The purpose of this platform is to provide a space for girls of color to express their ideas, talk and learn about issues that are important to them, and be…

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