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History: Creativity formed from the knowledge of the past
History has always been a genuine interest of mine ever since I was a child. EVERY TIME my mother would take me to the library, I would dart straight to the non-fiction history books. I was always fascinated by how things progressed in this world. Seeing how we went from the Paleolithic Age to having self-driving cars is something that has amazed me. I’m a major “why” person, and history has usually given me the answers to my questions. “Why is something named this?” “Where did this come from?” “Why do we use this?” and many more bizarre questions. My bizarre questions have also pushed me further into the subject of history because they made me realize how bizarre history actually is! For instance, did you know that the Palace of Versailles, since toilets barely made an appearance, the residents in the palace would use the bathroom in the halls, in closets, and sometimes they would even have meetings while actively using the bathroom! I couldn't believe such a wealthy establishment and people could install some form of a relief area. It’s gross, but it really shows you how fortunate we are in the present. I really pride myself on the history of my own culture, African American history. I think it’s really crucial for me and any other minority to indulge themselves in their history because unfortunately, many of the ancient artifacts and documents are being erased. As a black woman in America, I’ve learned about so many contributions that were made by women that look just like me. Marie Van Brittan Brown was the woman who created the system that helps keep our homes safe, the home security system. Alice H. Parker was another woman whose innovation had helped keep our homes warm (heating and cooling). Another one is Katherine Johnson, her mathematical skills were a huge part of the success of the man on the moon mission in 1969. These are just a few of the trailblazers that remind me that I come from greatness and prosperity.
I love to go into the history of fashion. One of my favorite historical events in the fashion world is the Battle of Versailles. It was a fashion show that happened in 1973 to fundraise for the restoration of the historical French palace. Designers from around the world came together and made these beautiful pieces. The fashion show was also set up like a competition, the French designers vs the American designers. America won with a standing ovation after their presentation. This event alone put African American women on the map to be recognized as respected models. The designers of the show include, but are not limited to, Yves Saint Laurent, Stephen Burrows, Hubert de Givenchy, and Anne Klein!
MY INTEREST IN HISTORY DOESN'T JUST STOP AT THE HISTORY OF HUMANS. I LOVE TO LEARN ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS. FOR INSTANCE, DID YOU KNOW THAT MONKEYS ALSO DEVELOPED A VOICE BOX THE SAME WAY AS HUMANS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF MATTER IN THE BROCA’S AREA OF THE BRAIN, THE ONLY WAY TO COMMUNICATE FOR THEM IS TO MAKE NOISES. THEY LACK THE COGNITIVE SKILLS TO FORM WORDS AND SENTENCES. THEY CAN DO SIGN LANGUAGE WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HUMANS HAVE TAUGHT TO DOMESTICATED MONKEYS.
