NOAH AOC

soulfeJGe85:

i dont think this is an example of racism... because albinism isn't a race. Maybe discrimination or just being teased because of the way we look different. I can't recall when a person of another race has gone out of their way to humiliate me because of albinism. I receive a lot more negative comments about albinism and the color of my skin from people of my own race, unfortunately.

 

Yea same here.  I usually get the negative comments from people my own race.  Its usually the older people tho.  It hasn't been from anyone my age in a while.

When I was in middle school it was mostly from males my age, I hated that. Now it's usually from females. It's pretty annoying. I recently went to a party and there was a big crowd at the door. I was on the VIP list so I got to walk past the line. Soon as I walked in the door, this random chick gets all up in my face and starts shouting at me and making a big scene, calling me albino and barking (literally barking) at me. Her friends were all laughing. I did not know any of them and I didn't care to respond, they looked really stupid. I thought it was funny that they were at the back of the line and I got to walk right in.

People like that are always the ones left looking stupid.  And i don't know why, but they are usually the loudest at whatever area they decide to attend.

I guess we're talking about "xenophobia" here.

 

When my now-wife and I were first dating, we were walking on a street in College Station Texas.  Some jackass pulled up, and shouted out at her - "If I was going to make a movie about you, it would have to be titled "Ghost"".  I was so shocked I didn't respond, though whenever I think about it I would love to have served him a knuckle sandwich.  She just turned and went on inside.  I asked her about it and she said she hadn't gotten anything like that in a while, but in earlier years it was a pretty regular occurrence.  Terribly sad. 

 

Sp
 

I agree, i would not call it racism, as albinism is not a race.

 

Most of the comments i get are from strangers..and they are usually asking me if i dye my hair and eyebrows, or if i am able to tan, or what race i am ( i am of hispanic decent, although my immediate family members have lighter skin and hair for a spanish decent ) Most people just think i am very blonde...it has gotten better now that i am out of school, that is where i would receive the worst of comments and nicknames from people..although eventually i learned to not let it bother me, and i really didnt mind the nicknames "Powder" and Casper"  

 

People just plainly do not know how to handle being around someone outside of what they normally encounter, so they say ignorant and sometimes hurtful things.

They end up looking like the ass in the long run. 

We get an inside out, rather twisted version of racism. People react to what they think they are looking at.

I have been called half-breed because people thought I was mixed.

Once I was on a bus in MD. There were no White people on the bus but this man sat behind me and said, "You better git off dis bus, White lady."

Now, I could have turned around and showed him who I really was, if you know what I mean, but it wasn't worth it at the time.

In terms of calling me names like “hey, albino”, the last time someone did that, I turned to him and said, "What." He couldn't think of anything else to say.

Once someone pointed me out and I asked, "Do you have a problem with my albinism?" This guy said, "no, I don't got no problem". I said, Good. I'm very glad about that, and I walked on.

The cowards that zoom by and yell something just get a flip off.

You have to know how to read people, though. Don't go up against any gangs. You need to know when to just keep steppin'.

The name calling etc used to bug me, and frankly when it happens now it still does (and I'm 42....) That said, it does present the opportunity to educate people, or have a witty comeback, such as my all time favourite one after someone said something to me, I replied "you ever have sh__ kicked out of you by a blind man?" Of course, I am not sure I could have taken him, however, it allowed me to tell the story... Dave

 I definitely wouldn't describe the verbal abuse as racism, as has been mentioned people albinism aren't really a race unto themselves. Living in Ireland we really didn't have a very multi-cultural/multi-racial society until the last ten years or so. I've never been abused verbally or otherwise by someone of another race, it has only ever been by people from Ireland, or other European countries.

 I think it really stems from the fact that people with albinism tend to look so different. People are afraid of difference because they don't understand it. Unfortunately, as has been mentioned above, the media has a large impact on the lack of understanding that most people have, because of their continued portrayal or characters with albinism as "the bad guy" or as the comic relief.  This kind of situation would not occur, in my humble opinion, to someone of a particular race (if that makes sense) because there would be all kinds of legal implications should they single out a particular race/ethnicity. 

 At the moment here in Ireland, there is a lot of media discussion about the verbal abuse people with red hair are receiving. This has only really been an issue in the last couple of years. It has been bugging me because the media here seem so concerned about highlighting it and discussing it, yet I and other people with albinism have been receiving abuse based on hair or skin colour for god knows how long, yet the media does not seem interested in bringing it up, as there is not the same level of public interest in it.

 I've been finding it quite irritating of late because of an incident in Belgium, I was on a tour with my rugby team and had been having a great time playing matches, boozing etc. yet one day whilst walking by a team from England I had all kinds of names and abusive remarks made about my albinism. I felt so alone and really couldn't talk to anyone about how I was feeling. It really ruined the overall enjoyment of the weekend and there's nothing you can really say when there's a large group involved.

People say "Just ignore it" or "they're just insecure in themselves" but it's so hard and you can never think of the perfect come back at the time. A lot of the time too, they're too far away to pick out any particular physical characteristic to mock them about!

 Anyway, it seems, unfortunately, that this verbal abuse is going to be a constant feature of my life until people become educated, or less ignorant to the hurt they cause or until it become an intolerable form of abuse/discrimination.

 

 Howdy Folks!

 This is an ancient topic and always a sad one. This topic has caused much distress at NOAH in the past as people try to parse words and definitions too finely.

Whether or not it is racism is not really relevant.

As a point of biological fact, there is only one race: human. The "races" are social constructs that have arisen over time to serve various sociological, economic and political purposes-not just for Europeans either-for various powerful classes and established orders.

Let's just call what people with albinism experience "bigotry". If you want, we can call it bigotry based on difference.

Trying to figure out exactly how it all started is less important than trying to figure out how to end it.

Before doing that, however, we need to explore just how hurtful this is to everyone who experiences it.

The reason for doing this exploration is that it actually helps to end bigotry  as well as build a community of support for those who experience the bigotry: it's victims.

"Victim" is not a bad word.  We have learned that "blind" is not a bad word just because some people may perceive bad things about it. It is the same with the word "victim."

I am glad you are all sharing your thoughts and feelings about these things as they help me deal with mine.

I've experienced almost all of what you have talked about and it is always hard to deal with it no matter the age you are.

The lack of a snappy comeback, the chilled gut of horrid aloneness, the feeling of awful surprise and shock whenever it happens?

This is no shame. It puts the lie to all the hurtful words ever thrown.

The fundamental fact of our humanity is always confirmed by the fact that we are always surprised, shocked, angry and hurt at bad treatment.

We are fully human, we expect full, equal treatment and we feel these things justly as all full humans would.

Keep on talking about your experiences, strength and hope.

 

Bob G.
 

Hi all

Myself I have been on the receiving end of some nasty remarks and it is hard to ignore them especially when you just want to get on with your life. I am unsure weather the discrimination people with albinism receive is racism or not. My deffiniton of my own race is who I am. I am a British, female scouser with albinism and if anybody attacks me about any aspect of those identities I would be upset.

My main problem with it all is that people with albiism have a disability. Very little is know about the condition and as people have mentioned before the media portrays us as 'freaks' which is wrong and doesn't who albinism in a true light. Really mocking or degrading anyone for a disability is a discrimination within its self.

The people who say bad things are ignorant and we all know what ignorance is a symptom of?? Fear. People are scared of things they don't understand but regardless it does not give anyone the right to be nasty to others xxx 

Hello,

I´m not concerned from Albinism, but my boyfriend and when I read some posts, I got a different impression of Albinism. 

About the whole racism debate, I think it´s a question, how people present themselves. My boyfriend is very self-confident (he went through all the problems like you in childhood until he fought back) and I think, this helps him (sure not always, but mostly) to prevent stupid comments.

I don´t know what live of a person with Albinism is like, but my experience with my boyfriend and the fact, that I had a look into sites of Albinism showed me, that the medaille has two sides.

He feels and presents himself as an absolutely normal man (with white hair, sensitive skin and eye-problems, but nothing more) - therefore he IS an absolutely normal man and nobody would doubt it. Some posts on sites for people with Albinism make even me feel, that affected people are people with special needs. Maybe it also depends on that, how people with Albinism definite and present themselves.

And of course, there are lots of idiots in the world, but the fact, that my boyfriend an me found each other, should show, that there are also other people in the world. Don´t overlook us, we are there :o)

 Greetings, Irene