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Mission
Journals of Color provides a unique platform for Bronx teens to creatively express their voices without having them silenced.
the need.
Underrepresentation of Black people has long existed from many years ago until today, ranging from the entertainment industry, our very own history textbooks, and literature. The lack of diversity in books remains a huge problem today as much as it did in the past. What we read is a reflection of our lives and the world, and if literature has a lack of diversity, we are presented with a one-sided perspective of everything. Even when the stories of minorities are told, they are rarely written from authors of the same racial background. Here at Journals of Color, we strive for diversity and we are the change.
12%
of children's books from US publishers were written by racial minorities, according to the Cooperative Children's Book Center report.
27%
of children books featured animals and non-human characters, beating the 23% of African American books in 2018, according to the Cooperative Children's Book Center Report.
1%
of children books portrayed indigenous characters out of the 3,134 children books reviewed for a study, according to the Cooperative Children's Book center report.
why join?
Community
As a magazine exclusively for teens, you have the chance to make new friends and be involved in a creative, talented, and an intelligent group of aspiring writers, artists, and photographers. You can have a stable support of connections and share opportunities amongst each other in our virtual group chat.
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Improve
No matter your experience with writing, art, or photography, if you are passionate, this is the place for you. Journals of Color will allow you to deepen your love for literature as you will be writing a poem, creating art, or capturing photos once a month. You will learn what it is like to create with intent and meaning.
Community
As a magazine exclusively for teens, by teens, you have the chance to make new friends and be involved in a creative, talented, and intelligent group of aspiring writers, artists, and photographers. You can have a stable support of connections and share opportunities amongst each other in our virtual group chat, in our growing community of 40+ Bronx/NYC teens.
Passion
With numerous roles offered, there will always be a place for you at Journals of Color. And if not, there is space for you to try something new here! Whether it be being a writer or an artist, to a director or video editor, Journals of Color offers you the opportunity to not only leverage your creative skills, but take leadership and learn how to manage certain departments.
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Improve
No matter your experience with writing, art, or photography, if you are passionate, this is the place for you. Journals of Color will allow you to deepen your love for the arts as you will be writing a poem, creating art, or capturing photos once a month. You will learn what it is like to create with intent and meaning, all while building your creative portfolio.
Movement
Journals of Color is more than an opportunity for young creatives to improve their skills and publish their work, but we are a part of a movement of redefining historical narratives associated with the Bronx. Be a part of our mission of molding what it means to be a young BIPOC creative.
our core values
At Journals of Color, we prioritize these fundamental principles when publishing our work, reaching our audience, and fostering our community.
Diversity
We ensure that our members and work reflect diverse experiences that encompass not only the Bronx, but narratives across the nation. We prioritize giving a platform to voices that have been historically marginalized, and ensure that our staff represents a broad spectrum of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and intellect.
Authenticity
Along with having a diverse team follows perspectives that are often silenced. At Journals of Color, we prioritize authenticity with our storytelling and equip our staff with the confidence to unapologetically express themselves.
advisory board
Annie Stavang (she/her)
Amy E. Witting (she/her)
Omnia Saed (she/her)
Program Manager at Amazon
Freelance Journalist/Columbia School of Journalism Masters Student
Master Teaching Artist at Roundabout Theatre Company
follow our instagram!
Our Instagram, @journalsofcolor.mag, is another platform for creativity and activism to educate our audience about breaking news, race issues, BIPOC history, cultural holidays, and Bronx news + spotlights.
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Accountability
As a youth-led community, there is always room for us to grow. At Journals of Color, we prioritize feedback in any medium and are eager to apply feedback from our audience or internal staff to grow our platform and continue releasing authentic, reflective, and reliable work.