Violet-1.25.10-Positive Exposure (Visit 2)

On January 25, Parker, Ruby T, Cheyenne, and I took a cab to 20th and Park Ave. to go to Mr. Guidotti’s studio. When we arrived we were greeted by Miche Griffin, she gave us a packet, containing many facts about the organization (Positive Exposure). Some of the facts included were, when he started it, why he started it, and where he has been.

Our first visit was more an introduction to the program, then a “working”  visit. Other than reading the packet, we were shown a video, about how some people with albinism, by witch doctors, for their limbs. Most of the people who were  slaughtered didn’t survive, but in one of the videos we saw, she did survive, but now has no arms. This woman was about 30 or so, and she had to live with her parents, because she couldn’t do much by herself.

We were also shown pictures of his work, we saw many pictures from his trips to Tanzania. There was this one child, who was born with albinism, but his mother and father thought their child was “cursed,” so they put him out in the sun, by them doing so, this boy began to get brown spots on his skin-skin cancer.

Also, quickly, I would quickly like to clear up exactly what albinism is:

• It is refers to a group of people with little or no pigment in their eyes, skin, or hair.

• One in 17,000 people in the U.S.A have some type of albinism

• Albinism affects people from all races, most people with albinism are born to parents with “normal” hair and eye color for their ethnic backgrounds.

• Many people think everyone with albinism has red eyes. But, this is not true, some have  reddish, violet, hazel, or brown eyes, but, most have blue eyes. But, all forms of albinism are associated with vision problems.

•More detailed facts about albinism

Not only does Positive Exposure deal with albinism, it also deals with many other genetic conditions. I was honored enough to meet two people who have genetic conditions. One actually passed away. But, when I met Pauline (quite a long time ago-probably about 5 years) it didn’t seem like she was different, she was as normal as anyone else, she just looked different. I was also lucky enough to meet another girl, who must have been at most only 7 years older than me. Although, when we did meet, it was at a photo shoot and we did not talk much, but I could tell, that by Mr. Guidotti taking pictures of her, it made her feel pretty.

The video we watched about the people getting slaughtered in Tanzania is quite graphic, but it is worth watching, to me it was a wake up call to another big problem that’s currently happening in the world. Albinism in Tanzania