Hello, lovely people, and welcome to the final video in my Disability History Month series.
So far, I've profiled two famous disabled figures from history:
Helen Keller and Queen Alexandra, as chosen by you;
and my lovely wife and I have held two live streams talking about different disability issues.
You can find the links to those videos in the description down below.
And if you're not already subscribed, then do make sure you do,
because I have lots of great content planned.
Also subscribe if you like ASMR because apparently that's a thing my voice does without me realising.
Thank you for letting me know, I'm glad I could help you in that way.
In today's video, we're going to be talking about Frida Kahlo,
an artist who wasn't afraid to tackle social issues,
sexual identity, political activism
and non- conformity.
This choice was suggested by a number of people,
but mainly inspired by my other favourite, queer, disabled, latinx person:
Annie Elainey, whose video on Frida you can also find in the description.
Born in Mexico in 1907, Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo...y ...Calderón... Calderen?
Calder... Calder... It's got a thing above the 'o'!
Calder...er..er... Calder
Why is the deaf girl attempting to pronounce things that she has never heard?!
Hold on. CLARA!
J: Hi.
Clara: Hi.
J: You're gonna pronounce stuff for me. Clara: All right.
J: The whole way through this video.
Clara: OK, got it. J: That's your task, OK?
Clara: Great job! J: Have fun.
Clara: Go for it? OK.
J: Thanks!
You can go now!
Clara: Bye! J: That was it.
Frida was born in a tiny blue house called La Casa Azul,
where she would live on and off her whole life.
Her father, [Clara's voice] Guillermo Kahlo, [Jessica] was German but became a naturalised Mexican,
and her mother, [Clara's voice] Matilde Calderón, [Jessica] who was a [Clara's voice] Mestiza,
[Jessica] which is an old-fashioned term to mean a person of combined Spanish and Native-American descent--
erm, the term is an ethnic racial category in the Caster System
that was in use during the Spanish Empire.
But, according to my research, it's now more of a cultural term for mainstream Latin Americans,
regardless of their actual ancestry.
That's just according to my research... I don't know;
I live in England.
Please do let me know if that's not the case, however
- as you may be able to tell: very British!
Frida had three sisters: [Clara's voice] Matilde, Adriana and Cristina
[Jessica] and two older half-sisters: [Clara's voice] Luisa and Margarita
[To Clara] I'm just making you say things for fun now!
By the time she was six, Frida had contracted Polio, which caused her to be bedridden for over nine months
and left her with one leg shorter than the other.
Polio is a virus which may cause paralysis and is now easily preventable
by VACCINATION!
['Sparkly' sound effect]
Of course, this didn't stop her, and she got outspoken and brave.
Her father encouraged her not to be pigeonholed by other people as being incapable,
but instead do whatever she wanted,
encouraging her to engage in a number of sports, including swimming, boxing, wrestling and football.
Which is not only impressive because no one thought "the disabled kid" could do it,
but also because they didn't think a woman could
or should!
What, are we just meant to drown?!
In 1922, she enrolled in The National Preparatory High School in Mexico,
where she wanted to study medicine.
Here she met future Mexican intellectuals and artists
who had revolutionary ideas.
She joined the group [Clara's voice] Los Cachuchas, [Jessica] named after the caps they wore.
They defined themselves as a political group
who were critical of authorities and injustice.
At the age of around fifteen, Frida saw a man, [Clara's voice] Diego Rivera,
[Jessica] painting a mural at her school
and remarked to a friend that she would one day marry him.
Despite him being twenty years older than her
and already an adult.
On September 17th, 1925, when she was just eighteen years old,
a bus Frida was riding in collided with a streetcar and she was seriously injured.
A handrail impaled her hip, and her spine and pelvis were fractured.
She was in incredible pain
and the accident left her in a full body cast for three months.
Forever after, she often required a body brace.
Her helpful parents refused to let her waste away or get bored,
so they bought her paints and built her an easel that she could use in bed
- and quite honestly, that easel is genius and I suddenly really, really want one.
She developed her painting style whilst lying flat
and continued to grow as an artist.
In 1928, Diego Rivera, the man Frida had sworn to marry,
discovered her paintings and was very taken with the artist.
They were married one year later.
Not everyone approved, however, and they were often referred to as "the elephant and the dove."
Although I'm sure affectionately by some people?
Because calling your tall, obese friend an elephant is totally OK, right?!
Frida often travelled with Diego, as he was commissioned for murals throughout the United States.
She was often seen in New York with her signature bright, beautiful clothing
accented with gold, which celebrated her Mexican heritage.
Even though doctors had told Frida she could not have a child because of her injuries,
she became pregnant in 1930.
However, because of her unstable spine, and the baby's position,
her pregnancy had to be terminated.
Both Frida and Diego had several affairs,
and people seemed to really harp on the fact that Diego had one with Frida's sister,
but that's pretty boring considering Firda actually had a number of relationships with other women.
Not something every history book will tell you because:
[Clara's voice] Queer erasure!
That's a thing!
I thought it would sound less painful in the Spanish accent, but no.
Still hurts.
I mentioned earlier that Frida was known for her Mexican shawls and dresses,
but on occasion she would also cross-dress,
wearing trousers and a shirt; later cutting her hair short.
I mean, it's not really shocking now, but it was back then.
There were rumours of affairs with French entertainer Josephine Baker;
American artist Georgia O'Keeffe
(yes, she of the rather revealing flower portraits);
and Mexican folk singer [Clara's voice] Chavela Vargas
J: Thanks, Clara.
J: According to Josephine Baker's biography,
the two of them met following a performance in Paris, and came out to each other as bisexual,
going on...to be lovers.
I get so excited about this!
For history!
American artist Georgia O'Keeffe met Frida in New York,
who then bragged to friends about flirting with Georgia.
The two corresponded often and there's a line in the letter from Frida to Georgia that reads:
"I thought of you a lot and never forget your wonderful hands
and the colour of your eyes.
I would be so happy if you could write to me, even two words.
I like you very much Georgia."
In an unpublished letter to a friend, Frida wrote:
"O'Keeffe was in the hospital for three months!
She didn't make love to me at that time; I think on account of her weakness,"
which I'm taking to mean: she did when she wasn't weak?!
[Clara's voice] Chavela Vargas
Clara: Oh, why do I have to say this again? Just use the first time!
[Clara's voice] Chavela Vargas
J: ...was a singer, originally form Costa Rica,
who sang Mexican Folk songs originally sung by men
and changed none of the pronouns!
She came out as a lesbian in her autobiography when she was eighty-one years old!
She and Frida became [suggestively] involved in the 1940s
and Chavela moved in with Frida and Diego for a time.
Frida once told her: "I live only for you...
and Diego."
Ladies loving ladies - could this possibly be more exciting?!
Disabled lady-loving ladies!
I'm excited even if you're not.
In 1939, Frida went to Paris, where she met [Clara's voice] Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso,
[Jessica] who became fans of her work.
She was such a success that France's most famous museum and gallery, the Louvre,
bought one of Frida's paintings.
That was the first by a 20th century Mexican artist EVER purchased by them.
That same year, Frida and Diego...got divorced
after she again became pregnant and had to have an abortion.
She then had an affair with the Communist leader Leon Trotsky,
who, whilst exiled from the Soviet Union, lived with Frida in the Blue House.
He was then assasinated
and Frida was blamed, then arrested.
A year later, Frida and Diego reconciled; getting married again.
Frida's fame grew, but her health continued to deteriorate,
as told through this painting: The Broken Column
from 1944.
Ha, chronic pain makes you feel like you've got nails in your face and you can't hold yourself together!
In 1950, she got gangrene in her left foot,
which is dead tissue caused by an infection or lack of blood flow,
and was in bed for nine months.
Again!
Oh, I feel that pain!
Eventually, she had part of her leg amputated
but she continued to create and stay politically active.
In 1953, she had a solo exhibit and on the opening day she had her bed delivered to the gallery
and (!)
had to arrive...
via ambulance.
Ah! The style!
A scene-stealing way to make an entrance!
Nicely done, Frida!
Soon after on the 13th of July, 1954,
Frida died -
just before her 47th birthday.
The last words in her diary were, "I joyfully await the exit
and I hope never to return."
She was cremated and her ashes lie in the Blue House,
which is now a museum.
Frida's fame has grown since her death,
especially in the 70s during the feminist movement
as she was admired as an icon of female creativity.
She is one of the most well-known artist for disabilities of the 20th century
and many of her self-portraits showed her in a wheelchair.
True role model for us all.
I hope you've enjoyed this video and the mini biographies I've been making.
I really, really loved creating this type of content
and it's definitely something I'm going to continue making.
But!
I need to know what type of profiles you'd like to see.
LGBTQ+ people? Disabled people? Amazing women from history?
People who were all three of these things?
Please let me know in the comments down below.
Next week is the start of my Christmastide videos;
I'll be making a video every day
from the 25th of December to the 6th of January.
Subscribe if you haven't already, and I'll see you soon.
[Music]