Frida

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that after reading the article in The New York Times about Salma Hayek's journey, life struggles, her experiences of working in the film industry, as well as the making of the film "Frida" resonated so well, and actually left me in a deep reflective state. No words. After reflecting and taking the time to digest her words and experiences, I can certainly say that I relate to her struggles. I think of her struggles of being a woman, and in the film industry, and how difficult it was for her to make the film "Frida". Her struggles, and even her life experiences can be related to any field, which also includes, the field of education and research. Just because one has entered the field of Higher Education, it does not mean that one is able to think, write, and research whatever one desires. The act to research is also a political act, because the system wants to know, how the research is going to benefit them. We can think in terms of the film. Frida Kahlo was Mexican, she spoke Spanish, a prolific artist, and one that did not gain the attention that she deserved whilst she was living. She suffered. She survived. And she lived. She was involved in social and political movements. She wanted to contribute even through her illness. Her story is worth preserving, researching, as well as the creating of books, films, and research about her life and arts. Just as other histories are worth preserving, so too is hers, which I would include the heritages of Mexico and USA. Frida and her husband Rivera, were both active in the revolutions in Mexico and America. The struggles and the victories of histories and ancestry are worth preserving. Just like that of the African American, South Asian, British, or any other history or culture of the world. No one culture is better than the other. Everyone wants their cultures and traditions to be valued.   

Ibrahim El - Salahi - African Modernist Artist.

     We can take these thoughts and relate them to the artist, the actress / actor, or the researcher / writer. What one decides to devote time and energy towards will depend on own interests and experiences. This is the beauty of being an individual, and creating from the point of what we value. If everyone was to create the same, have exactly the same interests, then what would a society look like? We must allow individuals to explore their interests, because where is the beauty of living in a homogenized society? When we explore what interests us, we in a sense add value, and make our own contributions to the world.

     But the fact of the matter and the realities that Hayek offers point out that, it is not as easy as it sounds. There will be risks, barriers, and heart breaks. But if it is important, whatever is to be created will always reveal itself in earthly form. Historically women have had to overcome so much more to get to where they want to be. We could blame male patriarchy, the intersections of race, ethnicity, religion, skin color, ability, disability, gender, or fidelity. Fidelity is a trust. Sometimes artists, thinkers, innovators must go beyond the lines of the nation state, this is especially the case for the building of democratic relations, diplomacy, and peace building. It should never be an excuse to point fingers at women to say that there have been transgressions. The ones who have entrusted you with their trust will always be there for you. 

Histories are worth preserving, weather it is your history or mine, it is worth it. We can all learn from the life stories of others, because one day we will also be another story. 

Dedication: The words of this being are dedicated to Salma Hayek, thank you for your commitment to the preservation of Frida's story. And to all human beings, what is your story?

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on December 14th, 2017.
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