Albinism is a skin condition present at birth and passed on from the parents to the offspring. It is a condition resulting from a significant reduction or absence of pigmentations in the skin, hair, and eyes. Individuals with this condition are fair-skinned and fair-haired most often with blue eyes taking on the tones of purple or red in bright light. This outstanding appearance has mesmerized humankind for centuries, getting reactions ranging from admiration to alienation (Llc, 2010). The society's attitude towards albinism tremendously affects the individual and their immediate family. These attitudes have changed over time since the early nineteenth century.
The society's attitude towards albinism greatly affects the person with the condition. Every society has its attitudes towards people with albinism. In US and the UK, most people have accepted albinism as a condition that can accrue to anyone. During this mid-age, native tribes in America considered Albinos as messengers sent by the divine entities. In some other native tribes, they were considered as elites and as good omen and hence treated with utmost respect. However, in the African society, albinism is viewed as a curse and persons with the condition are considered outcasts in the society (Lee, Nicholls, Bundey, Laxova, Musarella, & Spritz, 1994, pp. 531). Their presence was a manifestation of wrongdoing in the family and the entire clan. In some extreme cases of discrimination, the victims of Albinism have been killed, and their body parts used for witchcraft particularly as it happens in the Republic of Tanzania. Widespread poverty, illiteracy, and ignorance about the condition deprived the victims' proper care such as protection from the sun hence most died prematurely of skin cancer.
[...] However, there persists a plethora of misconceptions about albinism. Many victims of the condition have been institutionalized and stripped off vocational and education opportunities due to a misguided belief that their low vision prevents them from functioning normally and contributing considerably to the society. Victims who manage to get proper care live a life of implicit solitary detention and prohibition from participating in the day by day activities of their affiliation groups (Llc, 2010). In some cases, medical professionals have been known to recommend abortions for mothers with albinism with the thought that their children would not lead productive lives, and most would die at an early age. [...]
[...] Michael has advocated the plight of albinos by advocating equal rights since it is just a condition and not a disability. NOAH, together with other global organizations fighting for the plight of albinos by supporting and promoting education and research of the disease. NOAH hopes to bring the international community of albinos together and collectively educate the world about the various misconceptions and myths existing about the condition (Mccrackin pp. 787). Additionally, the group hopes to promote medical research on how to paramountly deal with the situation and if it would be corrected. [...]
[...] Johnny Winter and his albino brother Edgar are legendaries in the music industry with their Albinism condition. An interview with the brothers through their music career and living with the condition creates am insight for people to accept their condition and nurture the talent in them since they are normal people with differing physical appearance. Jonny Winter was born and raised in Houston and is the older of his brother Edger. Both were born with an albinism condition but managed to disregard Mother Nature's unkindness to forge a career as one of the few great white blues-rockers in America (Mccrackin pp. [...]
[...] From the phone interview with Johnny Winter, is clear that disability is not inability. The misconception that albinos cannot contribute significantly in society is lame and only a stereotype to discourage them. In the UNICEF report of 2013 on albinism, Michael Hosea a Tanzanian born albino narrated of his ordeal as an albino and aired his voice through poems and music of the heinous ordeals his fellow albinos face in their country. He said that one day he hopes his music will change the world just as Johnny Winter and his younger brother created the leeway for many in the global music industry (Meehan pp. [...]
APA Style reference
For your bibliographyOnline reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee
