Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP Images

STANDARDS

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4, SL.6-8.1

NCSS: Culture • Individual Development and Identity • Production, Distribution, and Consumption

CHANGEMAKER

Standing Up for Diversity

Fourteen-year-old Kheris Rogers is fighting back against bullying—and encouraging self-confidence—with the help of her own clothing line. 

As You Read, Think About: How has Kheris used her experiences with bullying to help others?

Kheris Rogers was in first grade when she started getting bullied for her dark skin. Classmates called her a “dead roach” and told her that she’d been left in the oven too long. Adults made her feel self-conscious about her skin color too.

“My teacher gave me a black crayon to color a self-portrait instead of a brown one,” says Kheris, now 14. “It made me uncomfortable.”

What Kheris experienced is known as colorism—and it can happen to people of many different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Colorism is a form of discrimination based on skin tone, in which people with lighter skin are viewed more favorably and given more advantages than people with darker skin. It often occurs among members of the same racial or ethnic group.

“I didn’t even know what colorism was,” says Kheris, who lives in Los Angeles, California. “I just wondered, Why am I being bullied by people who are the same race as me?”

Kheris’s family noticed that the bullying was affecting her self-esteem. So in the spring of 2017, her older sister, Taylor Pollard, posted a photo of Kheris on Twitter with the hashtag #FlexinInHerComplexion. It was their grandmother’s favorite phrase of encouragement—a way to remind the girls to love themselves just as they are.

Pollard’s post went viral, with more than 30,000 retweets in just a month. Many people commented on the post to share their own experiences of colorism.

“So many people told me they went through the same thing,” says Kheris. “That’s when I knew this was bigger than me.”

Courtesy of Flexin in my Complexion

In 2017, at age 11, Kheris Rogers (in front) became the youngest designer featured at New York Fashion Week.

Taking Action 

To spread her message of empowerment, Kheris decided to make shirts with the phrase “Flexin’ in My Complexion” written in big, bold lettering across the front. 

“I wanted to create something that would help others love their skin color and love themselves,” she says.

With the help of her sister and a $100 investment from their mom, Kheris printed two dozen shirts with the catchphrase, then set up a website selling the shirts for about $20 each. They sold out in just a few minutes! So Kheris and her sister went to work making more shirts in the family’s garage.

Later that year, Kheris was invited to participate in New York Fashion Week, a world-renowned series of fashion shows. In September 2017, at age 11, she made history by becoming the youngest designer ever to debut a clothing line there, showcasing her T-shirts, tank tops, and more.

Soon, Kheris’s designs had caught the attention of celebrities including Beyoncé, LeBron James, and Alicia Keys. Actress Lupita Nyong’o posted a picture of herself on Instagram wearing one of Kheris’s shirts, and Lena Waithe, a writer, producer, and actress, sported one of Kheris’s designs onstage at an event.

Vonecia Carswell Photography

A model wearing one of Kheris’s designs

Growing Her Brand

Today, Kheris and her sister are co-chief executives of their company, Flexin’ In My Complexion, which sells shirts, hoodies, backpacks, and other items. In addition to the phrase that started it all, they’ve sold merchandise emblazoned with the sayings “Coolest Queen in the Universe,” “Coolest King in the Universe,” and “The Miseducation of Melanin.” (Melanin is the substance in the human body that partly determines people’s skin tones.) So far, Kheris’s company has brought in more than $191,000 in sales.

As her business has grown, Kheris has received more and more opportunities to spread her message. She has appeared in a Nike ad, voiced a character on the animated Nickelodeon TV show Middle School Moguls, and signed a deal with Columbia Records as part of a girl group called Run the World. 

Kheris wants to keep expanding her company and has set her sights on working with other Black-owned brands in the future, including Fenty by Rihanna and Ivy Park, co-founded by Beyoncé.

“Uplift Each Other”

via Instagram

Actress Lupita Nyong’o posted this picture of herself on Instagram wearing one of Kheris’s shirts.

Kheris is still a student, of course, and in addition to running her business, she’s focused on completing her schoolwork and succeeding academically. How does she manage to balance it all?

“I make sure that my work and school schedule don’t conflict by keeping a planner,” Kheris says. “I also set daily goals for myself to make sure that I keep up with everything that I am supposed to do.”

Kheris has also used some of the profits from her company to give back. She set up a foundation that works with the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services to help youth who live in foster homes. She also has donated a percentage of sales to the Africa Center, a nonprofit in New York City that’s dedicated to teaching people about African history and culture.

Facts About Bullying 

20%

Percentage of 12- to 18-year-olds in the U.S. who have been bullied. Race and ethnicity are among the top reasons young people are targeted.

50

Number of states with anti-bullying laws. Some of the toughest are in New Jersey, where school staff must report bullying even if it occurs off campus.

57%

Percentage of time that bullying stops when a peer intervenes. If you see someone being bullied, step in if it’s safe to do so or contact an adult.

SOURCES: stopbullying.gov, NCES, PACER

At the same time, Kheris continues to speak out about colorism and bullying. She has given talks at youth conferences and schools and remains active in discussing those topics on social media. She’s heard from people all over the world, including from as far away as India.

“I receive messages daily from people of all ages and different backgrounds telling me that they thank me for sharing my story,” she says.

What advice does Kheris have for kids who are going through similar experiences with colorism or bullying? 

“It isn’t about your skin color. Your beauty is in how you view yourself,” she says. “We need to uplift each other.” 

Write About It! Come up with a catchy phrase or message that encourages people to stand up to bullying or to have self-confidence. Explain what the phrase means to you and how it could help others.

Interactive Quiz for this article

Click the Google Classroom button below to share the Know the News quiz with your class.

Download .PDF
Leveled Articles (1)
PDF
Leveled Text: Standing Up for Diversity

A lower-Lexile version of the article in a printer-friendly PDF

Text-to-Speech