Caridad "La Bruja" De La Luz
Casting her spell around the world

Jose Medina
Asst. Editor boricua.com
February 9th 2007

A spark of Boricua light illuminates over her worldwide audiences, whether it's her spoken words or her hard rap to her ever terrific acting performances, she expresses her personal and cultural issues with the fierceness of a warrior in battle. She empowers all with her abilities to express positive and educational messages through all her channels of talent.

La Bruja's parents moved to New York City from Puerto Rico, she was born and raised in the South Bronx. As a little girl she was always surrounded by the sounds of salsa music.. La Bruja would often perform for her family, mimicking her favorite salsa singer Celia Cruz. She began writing and attained a love for poetry.

La Bruja made her debut as an artist in 1996 when she performed at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. Shortly after that she showcased her abilities in a one woman show titled "Boogie Rican Blvd." it's about the life of the Puerto Rican persona from the Bronx to Puerto Rico. She blended characters, poetry, photography and music. The show sold out its 8 week run at La Thea Theater in New York. Soon after she toured to different cities of Latin America, Europe and the U.S. presenting her show.

Shortly after she released "Brujeria", her first independent album, then she released "The Bru"; her second independent album after her one woman show ended its run. She went on to work with Spike Lee in "Bamboozled", Iam.com commercials and voice over for the movies "She Hate Me" and "The Inside Man". She was featured on Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on HBO and on "Down to the Bone", a film that won best picture at the Sundance film festival. She also had a role in "El Vacilon The Movie" a Spanish language comedy about the #1 rated radio show in NYC on La Mega-FM. She appeared in a Levi's national magazine ad campaign that came out in Marie Claire, Glamour Magazine, Oprah Winfrey's Magazine and People; and she just recently released "BRUJALICIOUS", her third independent album, and first major release on her very own record label De La Luz records. The 1st video from the album, "Mi Gatita Negra" was added to many video channels and it's also all over the internet.

La Bruja on her recently released album "Brujalicious".

All of it is new. The track on my album Brujalicious called "Nuyorico," I created when Pedro Pietri died, but I did have two albums before. This is just my first with distribution and actual shrink wrap. My first was actually a cassette tape called "Brujeria" and I had my poems and stuff on it. And then I did this CD called "The Bru." And I was like burning them in my basement; paying individually to have them done. It was my first major indy, and it was also under my first record label, De La Luz Records, that I created. I'm so proud of that.

The other thing is I had a lot of friends that got signed onto major [record] deals. They were basically put on a shelf, their work was never heard, and they don't own [their work]. It's just really sad, all this talent being pushed to the wayside because of the industry. And I didn't want to let that happen.

It was considered the harder route. The road less traveled by. But it's definitely been the most rewarding. I don't have someone telling me how I should dress, what I should sing about—which women are so subject to in all industries. I'm just sick of that. That's one of the main reasons why I even did hip hop and reggaeton for that matter. It was because I felt that women were so underrepresented, especially Latinas. There was no positive face. No strong woman. If she wasn't a sex object, she wasn't out there.

Now La Bruja has lent her voice and presence to many causes over the years and now she has developed her own organization called Latinas4Life.

La Bruja talks about her new organization

After doing community work for well over ten years now, I've seen the growing need for help, communication, inspiration and truth. The truth is that as a Latina, I have struggled with the discipline of the traditional old school values vs. the lifestyle taught on the streets and media; I have survived, with minimal information, the pressures of teen sex, stds and pregnancy; I am a survivor of rape, depression and suicidal temptations; I have taught myself to heal through self-expression and art; the truth is...

I still have much to learn. But as I've learned, I have also taught through outreach and have connected with those that are so much like me with the hopes of finding the answers that can help us achieve a full and happy life. The statistics prove that a healthy, fulfilling life for women of color, especially Latinas, is slim. We are falling through the cracks of society, with little chance of breaking the ongoing cycles that plague us.

Life is at stake and this has inspired me to lead the Latinas 4 Life program. Through this program, it is my intention to work in over 20 NYC schools in 2007, and facilitate workshops that will inform our young women on how to survive the realities and issues that they will inevitably face throughout their lifetime. I cannot do this alone; many of you have already reached out to me expressing interest and camaraderie in this movement, affirming that this is a step in the right direction for us all. I am grateful and acknowledge all of you for your vision and courage.

La Bruja has written a screenplay called "Famers" and is currently performing with The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York City. She also has another album in the works with more spells to enchant all her fans. This multifaceted Boricua will prove that women can empower us and lead the youth to more positive and successful lives through education.

Click Here If You'd Like To Be Part Of This Movement!

Check Out La Bruja's Poetic Performance of Her Original Piece, "Pearl Of The Caribbean", As Seen on HBO Latino:

Check Out La Bruja's Poetic Performance of Her Original Piece,
"WTC", As Seen on "Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam":

>>To see more videos and to keep up with La Bruja click here.