(Image: File)

Since I started Ain’t I Latina? six weeks ago, I’ve received an overwhelming amount of support from not only my family and friends, but the online community, specifically other Afro-Latinas, Blatinas, and Latinegras. Words can’t even begin to capture the beauty in the emails, Facebook messages, tweets, and comments, among other correspondence.

I’ll be honest. I had no idea just how many women shared my sentiments on race and ethnicity, the lack of representation of brown and black beauties within media, how essential our voice is in conversations pertaining to Latinos, and why NOW is the time to shake things up. I admire women in the digital space such as Raquel and Rebecca of Boriqua Chicks, Yovanna Farley (and many of the women featured in our “6 Afro-Latina Bloggers/Vloggers to Follow” article) and Jessica “Omilani” Alarcón. (I know there are others out there that I may not know about, so please feel free to share in the comments section below.) These women are proud of who they are and embrace their black ancestry, which isn’t common in the Latino community.

Recently, I was asked to participate in Omilani’s Latinegras documentary. I’m so honored that she’s asked me to share my experience as an Afro-Latina in her upcoming work. The doc is dedicated to Latinegras in the voice of Latinegras such as Omilani. The overarching theme of the film is “Love the skin you’re in.” The project will delve into our history and explore some of the narratives of our journey, leading to the bigger picture of why we are a beautiful, resilient, strong and proud people.

Below is the trailer:

For more information on the film or Omilani, click here. Let me know what you think about Latinegras or your experience as an Afro-Latina today in the comments section.