Become, Believe And Belong
Written by Obwoge Joseph on June 13, 2024
Undeniably all human beings direly need a sense of belonging; if they lack it, they feel insecure.
Undeniably all human beings direly need a sense of competence; if they lack it, they feel inadequate.
Undeniably all human beings direly need a sense of purpose; if they lack it, they feel illegitimate.
Undeniably all human beings direly need a sense of worth; if they lack it, they feel inferior.
Factually speaking: life is by the people, for the people, of the people, through the people and to the people.
The Scottish birthed – American citizen who was the: Abolitionist, Epicurean Philosopher, Feminist, Freethinker, Lecturer, Social Reformer and Utopian Socialist Frances Wright wisely said,” Equality is the soul of liberty; there is no liberty without it .”
On Wednesday,28th.August.1963 the intrepid Non-Violence Civil and Humans Rights Activist, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Doctor Michael Martin Luther King Junior envisioned a fair playing space for every Tom, Dick and Harry by saying mellifluously,” I have a dream that one day: my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today .”
The Trailblazer Ellen Gould Harmon White advises me and you that,” We are all interwoven into that great web of humanity and the ALMIGHTY LORD GOD shall hold me and you accountable and responsible for the influence that we exert on each other .”
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Doctor Michael Martin Luther King Junior advises me that, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere .”
An inroad into the kaleidoscopic rays, each individual has a test turned into a testimony; a lemon turned into a lemonade; a wound turned into wisdom; misery turned into ministry; a victim turned into a victor and their tapestry is interwoven into the robust authority, identity and stability.
Herein lies audacious human spirits rewriting historical design defects, misconceptions, and myths and embracing their inherent beauty, identity and uniqueness.
This is the enigmatic realm unveiling not only the misunderstood complexities of genetics but also unearthing, unpacking and unravelling beauty, resilience, humanity and the clarion call to action at the dropping of a hat manner.
Globally, the interplay of genetics and society creates an exquisite refreshing to the body, nourishing to the soul and invigorating to the innermost core heart and spirit exposure featuring Biology marrying society and reshaping luminous resplendence of individuals who hold their own pencils and pens and author their history in the making narratives worth emulation.
This is the window into the intricacies of culture, genetics and humans’ experiences with albinism.
Welcome aboard.
The word albino stems from the Latin word albus which means white; thus individuals affected by the genetic disorder called albinism are mostly called albinos. The most preferred term is people with albinism.
Albinism is a rare genetic disorder where one is not born with the usual amount of melanin pigment, the chemical in our bodies that determines the colour of our eyes, hair and skin.
The lion’s share of individuals with albinism have very pale eyes, hair and skin.
They are prone to skin cancer and sunburn.
Melanin is also responsible for optical nerve development thus they have vision problems.
It is a rare genetic disorder that is not contagious; and cannot be spread. Ethnicity, gender, race and religious afflictions do not deter its occurrence.
Some of its signs and symptoms are :
Crossed eyes (strabismus)
Light sensitivity ( photophobia)
Patches of missing skin pigment,
Rapid eye movements ( nystagmus ) and
Vision problems.
The common types of albinism are :
Chediak-Higashi Syndrome,
Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome ,
Ocular Albinism and
Oculocutaneous Albinism is the most common.
It has no cure and thus needs management which includes, however not limited to the:
(I). Apply sunscreen regularly ;
(II). Covering up one with sun-protective attires ;
(III). If one has crossed eyes ( strabismus), surgery by a qualified surgeon can correct the condition ;
(IV). Keep the sun at bay ;
(V). People with albinism should make use of genetic counselling and guidance ;
(VI). Wear hats and
(VII). Wear sunglasses.
(VIII). Susceptible to social isolation. Let us embrace them. Humans’ Rights are: inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and universal.
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights .” Universal Declaration Of Humans’ Rights in Article One.
“And whoever does righteous deeds – whether male or female – and have faith shall enter into Paradise and shall never be wronged; even as much as the speck on a date seed .” An-Nisa 4:124.
Thursday,1st.January.1863 the Emancipation Declaration reverberates that, “All human beings are birthed with inalienable rights among them: right to life, right to liberty and right to the pursuit of one’s joy and fulfilment.”
Globally one in 20,000 people are birthed with Oculocutaneous Albinism.
Types One and Two are the most common ones with Types Three and Four being less common.
In the USA about one in every 18,000 to 20,000 people has albinism.
In other parts of the world, the ratio is one in every 3,000 people.
Witchcraft does not herald albinism.
Curses do not birth, herald and usher one into albinism.
Tanzania hosts the largest rate of albinism globally with one in 1,400 having the disorder.
The Source Of The Nile Union Of Persons With Albinism ( SNUPA ) at Jinja District in Uganda takes care of and advocates for the equality and rights of people with albinism.
It harbours 628 of them in its center; 313 and 315 being males and females respectively and 59% being under the majority age – 18 years of age.
Prominent personalities with albinism are, however not limited to :
African-American Actress and Model Diandra Forrest.
Factually speaking: the first female model with albinism to be signed by a major agency ;
Afro-Pop Singer and Songwriter Salif Keita alias The Golden Throat Of Africa ;
Shaun Ross, the first international model with albinism ;
South African Model Thando Hopa and
The Kenyan Government’s Spokesperson Mr . Isaac Mwaura.
Once we make an inroad into the Heavenly sanctum, in HIS infinite grace and transcendent Divine wisdom, the ALMIGHTY LORD GOD shall not ask me and you why we took incalculable ages to be saved; HE shall embrace us into the Heavenly Kingdom ;
the ALMIGHTY LORD GOD shall not ask us about our neighbourhoods; HE shall ask me and you how we treated our neighbours and
the ALMIGHTY LORD GOD shall not ask us about the colour of our skin; HE shall ask us about the content of our character.
American Activist Barbara Gittings, “Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is vanquished in the hearts and minds of the community where it counts and matters.”
“Equality is not a concept. It is not something that we should be ardently striving for. It is a necessity. Equality is gravity. We need it to stand on this planet earth as men and women and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who is confronted with it,” Joss Whedon the American Comic Books Writer, Composer, Director, Producer and Screenwriter.
The clarion call to action is to enable all and sundry to :
Become,
Believe and to
Belong.
I am not my skin.
Philosopher Daniel Masese.
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