MAITLAND, Fla. — Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz has had an identity crisis.
- Central Florida artist uses art to inspire, encourage other Afro-Latinos
- She says some have faced discrimination within Hispanic community
- Celia Cruz helped Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz embrace her heritage
The 47-year-old was born in The Bronx, New York and is an Afro-Latina with light skin.
Raimundi-Ortiz said many Afro-Latinos like her battle with an identity crisis, asking themselves how they should identify themselves.
"Can I even say that I’m Afro-Latino if my skin is not of this hue?” she said.
Now, she's using her art to celebrate her Afro-Latino heritage and spread a positive message to other Afro-Latinos.
Raimundi-Ortiz said support from her family and Afro-Latino musicians such as Celia Cruz inspired her to embrace who she is.
“I think Celia Cruz was the first time I saw or made the connection a person can be black and speak Spanish," she said.
Raimundi-Ortiz says some Afro-Latinos are discriminated against among the Hispanic community, a practice called colorism.
She said she wants her art to help change that and help Afro-Latinos embrace who they are.
“If what I’m doing is going to help a young kid, young adult, see themselves as I see them as beautiful, then I did my job," Raimundi-Ortiz said.
Her latest design is to show the beauty of African hair. Last year, she created a dress made entirely out of debris Hurricane Maria left behind in Puerto Rico.