Interview and questions by Danielle Dungca
The Earth consists of more than 7 billion people. With such a big population, it is no secret that the planet is loaded with diversity and culture. Along with these two beautiful and magnificent aspects comes the much less pleasant atmosphere of socio-political issues, which are especially directed toward groups of minorities such as the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community. Fortunately, there are people like Huiwen Chen, founder of Detester Magazine, who work to amplify these issues and bring awareness to the BIPOC community itself. In this interview, we dive deep into the creation of Detester Magazine and the significance of becoming engaged in the world.
Please introduce yourself.
Hello! My name is Huiwen Chen, and I am a 17-year-old Asian American high schooler from New York City and the founder of Detester Magazine. As a creative individual who is also interested in STEM and social justice, I am passionate about exploring the intersections between my vastly different areas of focus. In my free time, I enjoy creating art, visiting museums, and trying new things –– I am always willing to step outside my comfort zone to search for new ideas that would spark my curiosity and to educate myself.
Describe Detester Magazine in your own words.
Detester Magazine is an international publication and platform dedicated to BIPOC youth activism through creative mediums. It’s a team of youth who are united by a strive for social and progressive agents of change in the world.
What was your inspiration behind the creation of Detester Magazine?
The founding of Detester Magazine stemmed from the lack of such a platform in my local community, so its initial creation served to simultaneously address the absence and the need for change initiated by a youth of color.
At the core of Detester are social justice and creativity, and I had used art as a way to respond to current issues I cared about. I would credit artivism –– the combination of art and activism –– for helping me learn the potential of expanding this means of expression to a wider audience in order to inspire others to take action and amplify their voices.
When did your interest in activism and socio-political issues ignite?
Social justice is a concern that has redirected my own creative journey. There wasn’t a singular moment when I formed an interest in advocacy work, but I had witnessed and experienced firsthand –– on many occasions –– the discrimination against Asian Americans as well as the silence that accompanied the inequalities. The collection of encounters and confrontation against discrimination prompted me to recognize the urgency for a change. Moreover, socio-political issue is not a common topic of discussion in many Asian American households. It really struck me when I found myself to be surrounded by mostly white students during several school protests and walkouts.
How long did it take to create Detester Magazine? What did the process include?
Detester Magazine was created in the summer of 2019, but I actually had the framework idea a year prior to the initial launch. After reaching out to similar minded close friends (my dear co-founders Anju and Theo) who were supportive of my idea, we spent a few weeks to discuss over text the name of this platform –– it took several trials to settle on Detester, which captures the hate that we aim to fight against –– and what our platform would entail. Then, we made a website and published our first piece later that summer. However, Detester did not become an international team until quarantine started, when my co-founders and I invested more time in renovating our website and social media content, which reshaped the direction of Detester.
Was your original idea for this organization the same as it is today?
No. The progression from the “birth” of Detester Magazine as a space for a small group of people to its current state as a platform that influences an international community is beyond my expectation, but I think its growth has been an organic process. We used to focus primarily on publishing art and writing pieces, but the methods in which we fulfill our mission have extended to other ways such as panels, toolkits, action items, and informative graphics. It will continue to evolve as we aim for new ways to maximize our impact in a changing world.
How do you manage your time (school work, family life, social life, and heading the organization)?
I am always overwhelmed with an endless to-do list, as I find myself in a lot of extracurricular activities while balancing academics, family, and friends. Time management is critical to maintaining my productivity and working efficiently. Here are some tips:
I am proactive about planning a daily schedule. I use both bullet journals and an online calendar. It helps to separate your personal calendar from your work (academics, clubs, and etc.) calendar and categorize tasks by levels of importance and urgency.
Find more time in the day. In the pre-COVID-19 era, I would read books or multi-task on public transit. I would identity little ten- or fifteen-minute blocks throughout your day to do something that I thought I would not have time to do.
Be organized and set up goals.
I allocate time to relax and allow myself to procrastinate at times.
Explain Detester Magazine’s approach to helping the BIPOC community.
Not only do we publish multimedia content on our website and various social media platforms to educate others, but we also invest in campaigns that raise awareness on socio-political causes and increase civic engagement. These campaigns include a sexual violence toolkit (it’s being used in several schools in California) and a mental health guide for BIPOC youth, international panels, and a merch to fundraise for the Yemen Crisis. We are constantly expanding our reach and are currently working on several exciting inclusive projects, such as an international memoirs anthology on the cultural experiences of BIPOC youth, a podcast with an emphasis on issues that impact BIPOC communities around the world, and a children’s book that focuses on multiracial characters.
What does BIPOC youth activism mean to you?
Change. Inclusivity. Diversity.
The power of storytelling cannot be underestimated, but the narratives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are overlooked or have been made invisible. BIPOC youth activism deconstructs the stereotypes and biased, second-hand stories that are perceived as “truths”. It represents an immense possibility to create social change and expand our narratives –– this is a collective effort to actively share stories and demands from the perspective of BIPOC youth and in our own voices.
Though the organization built has made great strides in completing its mission--to amplify BIPOC youth activism and socio-political issues through creative expression--what would you say is your next step to take this even further?
As I described earlier, Detester Magazine’s work encompasses more than a digital publication –– while publication will still be a central part of our work, our greater scope also includes community building. I hope to establish Detester as a non-profit organization in the near future and take our work to local communities to create more tangible impact.
How does one get involved with Detester Magazine? If not looking to be a part of the organization, what are some ideas that you have that would allow others to get involved in BIPOC activism, or activism in general?
Detester Magazine is always open to youth who are equally passionate about activism and creative expression. If you are interested in joining our team (we have several positions open, including artist, writer, graphic designer, podcast co-host, and project manager), submitting your work, or collaborating/partnering with us, you can find more information at https://detester.org/get_involved! You can also subscribe to our newsletter at https://detester.org to get updates on our publication and recent work!
There are definitely options to engage with BIPOC activism in your own community. Don’t be afraid to start controversial conversations to educate the people around you and yourself about pressing issues. Every change matters; big change begins with small actions. You can always share action items and activism information with your family and friends, donate and support organizations whose causes align with you, and vote if you are able to!
Are there any special mentions you would like to include?
I greatly appreciate the passionate community (our hardworking internal team to our audiences) that we have cultivated through Detester Magazine.
Starting young and early, Huiwen Chen is an amazing role model and has definitely made her mark on the world through her hard work, dedication, and involvement in the community, world, and BIPOC community. There is no doubt that the people of the world can learn a thing or two from this exceptional human being. To witness the amazing work that Ms. Chen has produced, visit www.detester.org
Cover Image sourced from Detester Magazine
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