ABOUT SULMA ARZU-BROWN
Sulma Arzu-Brown is a proud Garifuna, Afro-Latina, Immigrant from Honduras raised in the South Bronx. For over 15 years Sulma Arzu-Brown has been working professionally as a champion for Diversity and Inclusion; well before the term became a trending topic.
In 2005 Sulma was sought out and began working with The Garifuna Coalition USA. Through her years there the Garifuna Community received numerous recognitions and awards which eventually led to Senate Resolution J973 NY State Senate Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare March 11, 2017, to April 12, 2017, as Garifuna-American Heritage Month in the State of New York.
She also worked for a Bronx, NY based organization on a program to re-insert Formerly Incarcerated Fathers (Overwhelmingly Black & Latino) back into the workforce.
In her current role as the Director of Operations for The New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Sulma’s platform has sparked a surge of professionals within the community identifying themselves as Afro-Latino/Afro-descendant.
In 2015 Sulma LLC. was formed following the success of Bad Hair Does Not Exist/Pelo Malo No Existe!;
Which was initially written as a way to educate her daughters day care provider on proper terminology to address hair particularly when dealing with Girls and Women of Color. Her follow up book, My Hair Comes With Me-Shifting the Paradigm of What Success Looks Like has been favorably reviewed and expands on seeds planted by Bad Hair Does Not Exist/Pelo Malo No Existe! The timely message helps address the infinite possibilities of professional careers that young women of color can pursue.
To give a short list of credits, Sulma LLC. has been featured in: Black Enterprise magazine, Huffington Post, Univision’s Despierta America, Remezcla; and has partnered with major brands and educational institutions such as Barnes & Noble, MasterCard, Nasdaq, Edelman, Stonybrook University and NYC DOE.
NO PELO MALO BOOK COLLECTION
Growing up is never easy. NO PELO MALO is a collection of books and resources that offers support for important milestones in the life of a girl. The collection will take you from the fundamentals of self-esteem to accepting who you are, appreciating the diversity of the community, friendship, dating & relationships. The books are intended to open up a dialogue about how to grow up with a good head on your shoulders and sound judgment for one another as women. Each book is bilingual to promote a second language and allow us to engage with one another.
Bad Hair Does Not Exist/
Pelo Malo No Existe
My Best Friend Likes Boys More Than Me!/
Mi Mejor Amiga Piensa En Chicos Mas Que Yo!
My Hair Comes With Me..
Shifting the Paradigm of What success Looks like
Video Series
D’QUE LATINO! is a family situational comedy/educational about a successful Afro-Latino family living in the South Bronx, dramatized by live actors for broadcast. The pilot episode was shot via zoom during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic in NY. All the actors and production team were quarantined in their home. The talented cast related to the script because it mirrored their afro-latin/afro-descendant roots in a positive light and upheld the values of their own families.
The word “dique” is a colloquial slang word meaning “supposedly.” As one takes a look at the features, skin colors and hair textures of the Amigo family, one can conclude although they are D’QUE LATINO, they are much more. They are Afro-Latino(a)/descendants and in their Latin country of origin, they are considered the Black community.
SULMA ARZU-BROWN Co-Creator/Co-Writer/Executive Producer - D’QUE LATINA
LBLAKES PARTNERS - Co-Writer
MEILING MACIAS-TORO- Executive Producer and Voice Over
LUIS CABALLERO - Director
MICHAEL MAX KNOBBE - Editor
WCBS Interview
'In the Heights' Diversity Controversy Sparks Conversations of Anti-Blackness in Latino Community
Press
9 Hispanic and Latinx Artists Open Up About Their Impact On American Culture
This article is part of "The Power of Us," a series running across Hearst Magazines that celebrates the deep and profound ways that Hispanic and Latinx culture have shaped America. To see the complete portfolio, visit Oprah Daily.
What Does It Mean To Be “Afro Latina?” 5 Latinx Women Discuss Embracing Their Black Identity
As we all know, Blackness is global. With a diaspora that resides in every part of the world, people of all shades, and experiences that manifest in many different forms, there is no “one way” to be Black. That being said, there are often Black experiences that go underrepresented when it comes to how Blackness is framed in our societal discourse and pop culture. Highlighting how they became aware of their Afro-Latina identities and what the term means to them during this Black History Month, MadameNoire got the chance to hear from five powerful Latinx women about the importance of embracing their Black identity.
These Afro-Latina Writers Want to See More Voices like Theirs in Publishing
Along with writers like Mayra Santos Febres and Sulma Arzu-Brown, Herrera is helping elevate Afro-Latinx voices in book publishing. During a Zoom conversation with OprahMag.com's digital director Arianna Davis, the writers broached topics of representation, race, and why it's important for even more Afro-Latinx writers to publish their work.
Hispanic Heritage Month: The politics of hair
A new show made its debut for Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s centered around the politics of hair in the Latino community. The show is actually based on a book, “Bad Hair Doesn’t Exist,” which was written by a mom wanting to instill pride in her own daughters. Sulma Arzu Brown spoke to PIX11 to share her journey.
Culturas Corner: Meet Sulma Arzu-Brown
Culturas Corner highlights individuals who make their community a better place through their work, business, volunteering or activism. Today we learn more about Sulma Arzu-Brown, the author of the ‘No Pelo Malo’ book series.
Sulma Arzu-Brown on How Her Children's Books Teach Girls Confidence and Afro-Latina Pride
Sulma Arzu-Brown talks to People CHICA about how her children's books celebrate the power of diversity and self-love. “My books are based on my experiences and the world around me,” children’s book author Sulma Arzu-Brown tells People CHICA...
How Hair Discrimination Impacts Young African Americans
Most women, and now men, see their hair as a personal expression of who they are. They don’t call is your “crowning glory” for nothing. But for many African Americans, especially young African Americans, it presents another form of discrimination. There are far too many stories of young Black men forced to cut their hair to participate in sports or young men and women unable to attend classes without cutting their hair...
Meet Sulma Arzu-Brown, Author - "Pelo Malo No Existe/Bad Hair Does Not Exist" and "My Hair Comes with Me
Meet Sulma Arzu-Brown a proud Garifuna, Latina, Black, Immigrant, and short woman raised in Hunts Point the Bronx.
Sulma is the self-published author of the award-winning book “Bad Hair Does Not Exist/ Pelo Malo No Existe” , "My Hair Comes With Me-Shifting the Paradigm of What Success Looks Like" and “My Best Friend Likes Boys More Than Me.” The books are not about hair or hairstyle, it's about the human experience that connects us all.
Get in Touch
We are always looking for new exciting projects and collaborations. Feel free to contact us.