I'm back to the 30 Day Writing Challenge! :)
Growing up, I have been fascinated by three women in particular: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne Frank, and Helen Keller. They are my historical triumvirate.
I was obsessed with the "Little House on the Prairie" franchise growing up. I still am. I have read all the books in the series, I watched the TV show, the made-for-tv movies, and I'm still reading books that are being published about Laura and her family. I read a biography about her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, and I read at least one of the children's books based on her life that was written by Rose's "adopted" son. It has been a dream of mine to visit one of the museums, to see Pa's fiddle and Mary's organ and the items from the house on Rocky Ridge Farm. I have mixed emotions about the recent allegations that Rose likely was the principle author of the "Little House" series. Being an aspiring author myself, it would be sad to me if Laura received all the acclaim for books she didn't actually write. But anyway, I love the books, the illustrations, the story of a girl living during such a period of change in our nation's history. She witnessed the treatment of the Native Americans, the prairie turning into cities, the effects of weather on farming, the Industrial Revolution, the invention of cars and planes, etc.
I have also had an interest in Holocaust literature during much of my life, and Anne Frank's diary was the start of that obsession. I have also read books written by other people about her, including what her life was like in the concentration camps. She was an ordinary girl who lived an extraordinary existence for more than two years, and chronicled her and her family's struggle for historical purposes. I am especially fascinated by the fact that she started re-writing her diary when she thought the war was close to an end. Even at her young age, she understood the significance of her time in forced isolation, and how popular and interesting her story could be. I know that Anne died only weeks before the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated. I firmly believe that if she had known she was close to freedom, and especially if she had knowledge that her father was still alive, she would have survived.
Helen Keller was perhaps the first person to become famous because of a disability. She became blind and deaf as a child, but went on to become a famous writer, speaker, and activist. She traveled the world, met many famous people, became instrumental in the development of the American Foundation for the Blind, and even starred in a movie. Yet as well-known and influential as she was, she was still constrained by the times she lived in. Her mother had archaic views of people with disabilities, and never allowed her daughter to date or marry. Helen also had strong political views, but her beliefs were often suppressed by the people around her, who believed that the public would only be interested in her disability and philanthropic-related activities. Helen was a woman who enjoyed the fun side of life - bawdy jokes and junk food - but the people in her company felt she needed to be more of a role model, a woman of decorum, grace, and charity. So I find her fascinating not only because of the life she lived and her many accomplishments, but also the struggles she faced to be her own person.
These are my three historical figures of interest; now here are some present-day people that fascinate me:
1) Zach Anner
Zach has Cerebral Palsy, the "sexiest of the palsies" in his words. He is a comedian, author, show writer, and YouTube sensation. He was a co-winner of Oprah's reality show, "Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star," which helped break him into the mainstream. Since then he has hosted a travel show on the OWN network, written a book called If At Birth You Don't Succeed, become a writer for the tv show "Speechless," and continued to create You Tube series. Zach is hilarious! He has a brilliant way of taking what he doesn't do well and creating success and humor from adversity, such as his comedic YouTube series "Workout Wednesdays."
2) Lizzie Velasquez
Lizzie became famous when she was horrifically labeled "The Ugliest Woman in the World" on social media in response to her YouTube videos. Lizzie has a very rare genetic disorder, a type of Marfan Syndrome. Instead of letting the insults defeat her, Lizzie has faced hate and ignorance with uncommon courage, strength, kindness, and forgiveness. She has traveled the world as a motivational speaker, written four books, and become a powerful force in the anti-bullying movement. Where she once was ridiculed and ostracized, Lizzie is now celebrated and admired. She is a shining example that you can triumph over hardship and succeed despite enormous obstacles. Choosing Happiness and Dare to be Kind are the titles of two of her books.
3) Chris Colfer
Chris was a young, unknown actor when he was cast in Ryan Murphy's wildly popular television show "Glee." He originally read for the role of an established character, but Ryan was so impressed by him that he created a new character just for Chris...Kurt, a boy with big dreams, a big singing voice, and big hopes that the football team will quit tossing him in a dumpster. Kurt becomes a main character on the show and we watch his metamorphosis as he makes friends, comes out to his father, triumphs over bullying, becomes a leader in the Glee club, and falls in love. Chris has not only acclimated to stardom and become a role model for gay youth, and youth in general, he has also branched out in the world of entertainment and become a bestselling author with his "Land of Stories" fantasy series. The first book is being made into a movie, with Chris directing. With all the unfortunate tales of young actors squandering their opportunities, I am so impressed by Chris' seeming boundless energy and drive to succeed in Hollywood.
librarianintx
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