Thought Leadership
History
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.
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.
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!
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 it 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.
Everything that we encounter has some sort of history. Whether it be the chair that you sit on, the lights you turn on in a building, a certain food that you eat, or even a certain piece of clothing that you wear. Everything comes from something. I’m always surprised BY how things can be connected whenever I do research on something. No matter how bad or how beautiful, I encourage you to look back for a second, just to see how far we have come and how far you've come.
Philosophy
I encourage people to always stay curious. Curiosity has done many wonders in the world. Inventions, discoveries, artistry, and even social and economic changes have come philosophically thinking. Like Albert Einstein said, “ Real intelligence isn't from knowledge, it’s from imagination.”
Here are some conversation starters for people who like to dig deep:
“If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?”
“If you had one superpower, what would it be and why?”
“If you could switch bodies with someone for a day, who would it be and why?”
“Do you think a new language CAN be made in today’s time?”
“If you were stranded on an island, what would you have with you and what would you use each item for?”
I think it’s good to question things, but I also think it’s important to know when to not TO think too deep into certain subjects. For example, during my creative process, if I’m beginning to think about something too long to the point where it’s stressing me out, I pause everything. With philosophy, there’s also an acknowledgement of when to know how to limit yourself. Too much of anything can have negative effects. It’s okay to think, but letting something float on the surface is ok too!
I was that child WHO would get in trouble for asking why too many times. It’s funny now that I’m older but I wasn’t trying to be ANNOYING. I genuinely wanted to know why. Getting older, that habit never STOPPED. I just figured out a different way to be curious without sounding like a parrot. Humans are a very complex species and even in today’s time, my curiosity of behaviors, patterns, and thought processes, morals, beliefs, ideologies, etc. have increased a lot. I’m a very observant person so I tend to think of new questions EVERY DAY just by seeing how people act in their daily lives. My most common question is “ If I hadn't done this, how would my reality be different? Where would I be right now?” As a person who’s always in thought, there’s no way I’m going to leave any of my questions unanswered!!!
What is the meaning of life? That is a very popular question that has many different answers. I’ll give you my take on it: The meaning of life is what you think of it. The meaning of life is subjective. There’s no definitive answer that has evidence to back it up. As much as I love to have deep discussions about this question, it also led me into another question: Why do people want to know? From my perspective, when people ask this question and are desperate for an answer, they look like they're trying to put air in a jar. I truly believe the question isn’t meant to be answered but to be used as a guide for other life questions to be sought out and answered.
“Creativity is that marvelous capacity to grasp mutually distinct realities and draw a spark from their juxtaposition”- Max Ernst
The Arts
The arts ARE one of my biggest interests and passions. Ever since I was a baby, I was involved in some creative activity. Whether it be ballet, tap dance, personal art projects, design classes, music/studio sessions, I was sucked in deep. Many of my other interests revolve around my love for the arts also. Without history there's no art. Without philosophy, there IS NO art. The arts make the world go round. If you look at the world like a big canvas, you’ll see That there ARE beautiful creations all around.
I am completely obsessed with music. Music has always been with me, even before I was conscious. My mother used to sing to me all the time, and my father used to play his records throughout the house. Music is a very powerful thing. The way a song can alter your brain chemistry, make you take on habits, or even begin to change up your whole life. I get this intense feeling called frisson, which is an intense feeling of excitement when I listen to music. I tend to enjoy music more in depth than what general listeners would. Things such as chord progressions, melodies, rhythms, beats, and even note changes can cause me to feel genuine creative joy. That joy had turned into A craft because I make my own music. The process to make music is like math but for creatives. If things start connecting, it’s really fun, but if they aren't, it can be really frustrating at times. Overall, music is a very important part of my life and I love it when people enjoy it as much as me.
Drawing, painting, digital art, pottery, etc. Art is another way I express myself. I’ve always had people come up to be and compliment my art and say at the same time “I could never be an artist, I’m not as good as you!” I debunk that myth straight away! Art is not an activity that is meant to always have the straightest lines or the cleanest strokes. It's the meaning behind the line, and it’s the meaning behind the stroke that makes something art. A good example of a non-traditional artist is Jean-Michel Basquiat. He is a contemporary artist that was based in Brooklyn, New York. To the common viewer, some people say his art is too messy to be deemed as iconic or an actual form of art. The reason they are wrong is that with every painting, there was some type of story that went behind it. When you give something meaning, it becomes art. You could draw a stick figure, but if you said that was someone that you care about, congratulations, it’s art now!
Dance is a major relaxant for me and a way that I keep my body healthy and exercised. I’ve been into dance all my life. My first recital was when I was 1 and a few months old. My love for music and dance go hand in hand. When my favorite song comes on, I move my body in a way that the music is telling me to. This is something that I’ve learned from studying one of the most iconic entertainers of all time, MICHAEL Jackson. To dance you have to free your mind. Allow yourself to be engulfed with the beats, the rhythms, everything that you hear in the music. Do what feels right. This type of thinking has helped me in many ways outside of dancing. Dancing is not only an art form, but it’s a form of expression and communication. If you're angry, you dance aggressively, if you're happy, you dance gracefully or whimsically. I encourage people to dance more. It’s a fun way to loosen up your body and to destress your mind!
