It was a misty afternoon on September 17, 1925, in Mexico City, where Frida Kahlo and her boyfriend ran to catch a bus home after spending the day at a street fair, browsing the sights while talking about life and plans. Frida had shared her desire to become a doctor and move to the U.S. to live in San Francisco. She was excited to continue her education from the prestigious high school she attended as one of the few women in her class.
The couple reached the stop and boarded one of the colorful buses. New to the area, these buses were quickly becoming favored, taking much ridership from the previously popular and still safer trolleys. Young people like Frida gravitated to the buses, which were driven by young and, at times, aggressive drivers. The drivers and passengers shared a youthful feeling of invincibility.
Not long after their boarding, the bus approached an intersection with a trolley. Such crossings were frequent, and near accidents were all too common. But on this fateful day for Frida, the bus driver acted too aggressively, and the trolley hit the bus.
Life drastically changed for Frida in that moment. We won't go into the details, but her injuries were gruesome. Doctors decided not to treat her when she arrived at the hospital, instead prioritizing patients who they thought had a chance to survive. But Frida’s boyfriend refused to accept the diagnosis. The doctors finally relented to his pleas and began to treat Frida.
Frida survived that day. And what a life she would live after.
The following is her story.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Historical Snapshots to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.