Power Behind the Lenses 

By Rosie Fellig

 

        Blocking out the sun and doing it glamorously is an easy task with the ever changing sunglasses. Cat eye, aviator, wayfarer, round, clubmaster, are just a few of the many shapes and variations of sunglasses. They have been worn by rock stars, actors, and models and have lived in the legacies of the wearers ever since. Sunglasses are a signature to many, and serve as a cross between style and practicality. It’s a given that sunglasses protect us from the blazing orange and yellow star we meet everyday, but they also protect our identities and give us the confidence we need to go through our everyday life. 

The first we hear of these tinted accessories is in ancient China and Rome. Chinese judges wore crystal glasses to protect them from the glare of the sun and to mask their expressions while in court and interrogating witnesses. The roman emperor Nero watched gladiator fights through polished gems to protect himself from the sun. In 1752,  James Ayscough began experimenting with tinted lenses to fix specific vision impairments. Tinted yellow and brown glasses were prescribed to individuals with syphilis, as one of the symptoms of the disease was sensitivity to light. In the early 1900’s stars began wearing sunglasses to hide their identities and avoid paparazzi, as well as hide their puffy red eyes that were caused by the harsh lights that were used in their studios. Sunglasses soon became associated with glamour and status rather than protection, and made its way to the masses in Atlantic City in 1929. Polarized lenses became available in 1936. Rayban made aviator glasses with polarized lenses for the U.S. Air Force pilots during world war two. In 1937, Rayban began selling the glasses to the public. Function met the catwalk, and sunglasses became one of many forever evolving pieces on the runway. 

The sunglasses' origins to hide one's emotions is still prevalent today. A wearer instantly achieves attitude, and swag after throwing on a pair of shades and calls everyone's attention. Who is the person behind the lenses? What are they feeling? Sunglasses have been trademarks for the likes of John Lenon, Elton John, and even first lady Jackie Kennedy. Their pairs of sunglasses all varied from each other and  reflected who they were and what they stood for. For Jackie Kennedy it was class, for Elton John it was funk. Although, each pair had the common purpose of protecting its wearer by acting as a shield between them and the world they lived in. 

The saying “blocking out the haters'' is commonly associated with wearing sunglasses. It's more than just the cool look one gets when throwing on a pair of shades that wins this saying, but rather the physical barrier between the wearer and the negativity of the world. Perhaps the first ever blocking out the haters with sunglasses moment in history was when Elizabeth Eckford was stormed with a mob of white bigots while going to school. At just fifteen years old, she arrived late to her highschool in Little Rock, Arkansas being one out of the nine first black students to integrate the school. She was denied entry and sat down on the bus stop bench while dozens of white civilians harassed her. She's photographed with a short sleeve dress with a gingham trim, bobby socks, white buck loafers, and black sunglasses. Hazel Bryan, a young girl pictured behind Elizabeth, is shouting with anger. Hazel looks practically out of breath.But Elizabeth just sits and waits. She doesn't look back, she doesn't respond, she simply blocks them out. 

  The sunglasses surely were not intentional, but ended up being the symbol that represented Elizabeth's strong silent front. We can learn from Elizabeth today as we fight for justice to not walk away from the fight. Even if it means standing alone, we should stand with strength. We should block anything that might stop us getting to the goal of equality and justice. Fashion is our armour we wear everyday. Fashion can be our tools to take on another day, another cause, another fight. Elizabeth was a vulnerable, powerless, black fifteen year old being denied her basic right of education. She didn’t let her circumstances belittle her, and used the resources she had to empower herself. History will remember Elizabeth as an icon for more than her nonchalant walk past her haters, but for her strength despite her vulnerability. It doesn't matter how old you are or what you believe in, you can always make a statement and fight with fashion. Elizabeth Eckford was just one of many who won her battle.