Two days after one of the most brutal presidential elections I’ve ever witnessed, I sit here trying to sort out a jumble of emotions. Yesterday, I was paralyzed. I couldn’t even write. Today, I want to write, but I’m not sure what to focus on. When I turn my mind to Frida, what keeps popping up is how much I loved the vibrancy of Mexican culture when I visited in September and what a disconnect there is between my experience and Donald Trump’s characterization of Mexican people as rapists and job stealers. Any time leaders prey upon people's fears by resorting to stereotypes and lies about a particular group of people, it strips them of their humanity. But, whenever we sit down with people and talk, eat food together, listen to music with one another or dance at a party, we connect as fellow human beings, making it much more difficult to demonize one another.
I was struck today by President Obama and Donald Trump sitting next to one another after their private meeting. Trump, who has accused the president of not being a U.S. citizen, said this was the first time he’s ever met the president. And, Trump acknowledged what a great conversation they had and how he plans to seek President Obama’s counsel. What? Did I hear what I think he just said? Of course, Trump may be disingenuous, but I wondered if coming face-to-face with the man and not the stereotype made it difficult for Trump to say something mean or sarcastic. It’s tough to dehumanize someone who is nice to you. Before coming to the United States, Frida had experienced some of the tensions between the United States and Mexico. When, in 1930, she finally had the opportunity to experience this foreign place first hand, she found things that she felt indignant about, such as the wealth gap, and things she enjoyed, such as the beauty of the land. She also criticized gringos, and made many friends, some of them remaining close over her lifetime. The ability to connect with people helped Frida have a deeper understanding of the diverse people of the United States. At that time, Frida was not a well-known artist, but now that she has become known throughout the world, she is a cultural ambassador, introducing people to her art and life, which is intimately connected to Mexican art, culture, and history. This is one reason I love writing about Frida. It seems obvious to say that we need to interact with people from all different walks of life to avoid stereotyping and demonizing; yet, at this moment in time when tensions are high concerning the issue of immigration, both in the United States and around the world, it’s worth repeating. As many have expressed on the Internet and through social media, we who believe in building bridges and reaching out to one another, have to continue to do so, now more than ever.
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Celia Stahr teaches art history at the University of San Francisco. She’s interested in women artists and artists who cross cultural boundaries. She fell in love with the power of Frida Kahlo's art in the 1980s, a feeling that has intensified over the years. Frida in America took 10 years to research and write, but Stahr never lost interest in this fascinating woman and artist.
AuthorCelia Stahr's Archives
October 2022
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