"Di
d You Know? The Origin of the High Five!"
Everyone loves a good high five. Whether it's celebrating a big win or just to show you're in the same team, this quintessential gesture of camaraderie has become a universal symbol of friendship and support. But have you ever wondered where the high five came from?
Believe it or not, the high five didn't exist before the late 1970s! It is said to have been invented by a baseball player named Dusty Baker, who was playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time. In October 1977, as Baker crossed the home plate after hitting a home run, his teammate Glenn Burke raised his hand to greet him. Instead of the usual handshake or pat on the back, Baker instinctively slapped Burke's palm in the air. That singular moment is credited with the birth of the high five!
Burke himself was a trailblazer in many ways. He was one of the first openly gay athletes in professional sports, and was known for his flamboyant personality and signature hair style. He was also the inventor of the "dugout dance", a funky routine done by the Dodgers players as a kind of victory dance. Burke was later traded to another team, where he was subjected to homophobic comments and eventually left professional sports completely. But his contribution to sports history lives on through the high five.
But wait, there's more! The high five wasn't just a product of spontaneous glitz and glamour. It is also part of a long tradition of hand gestures used to show unity and support. One example is the famous "Black Power" salute raised by two African-American athletes at the 1968 Olympics. Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood with their fists in the air, in a powerful statement against racism and oppression.
The high five has also morphed into countless variations over the years, from the classic palm-to-palm slap to the "flying chest bump" and the "double high five". It has become a staple of pop culture, appearing in movies, TV shows, and music videos. It has even spawned a National High Five Day, celebrated every year on the third Thursday of April.
So next time you raise your hand to slap a palm in the air, remember the origins of this quirky and beloved gesture. The high five has come a long way from its humble beginnings, and continues to bring people together in sports fields, dance floors, and everyday life. It may be a small thing, but it has the power to make a big difference in the world.
