International Albinism Awareness Day

Celebrate Yourself Everyday

The Albinism Alliance Group (TAAG) was formed out of a need for community in the Metropolitan Atlanta area, due to under representation by present organisations and leaders designated. We work together as a unit, using online communication, to keep one another encouraged and growing forward, by sharing experiences. We have been able to meet up and fellowship in informal settings and enjoy being ourselves without excluding ourselves from the masses or allowing ourselves to be exploited. The history of International Albinism Awareness Day, is important. We join with our brothers and sisters around the world to represent our community members, because each of us are someone to celebrate.

We are much more than the skin we are in

Human rights of persons with albinism is a real plight here in the US, but even more so in other countries. Discrimination for many basic resources is real and experienced often, no matter where we are. Self love, determination and the ability to preserver, can be key factors in learning how to make a mark in this world.  We are much more than the skin we are in, but In support of International Albinism Awareness Day, we have to join together to stop discrimination and promote the betterment of persons affected with albinism everywhere.

Human rights of persons with albinism is a real plight here in the US

We are talented and capable, due to low vision and the differences in appearance we are not often afforded the opportunity to show this in desired areas, this can reduce the quality of a persons life. Low vision plays a big role in this and persons non-affected by albinism may find it difficult to understand the impact of low vision depending on his or her own experience. There is something to be said about all who work toward some sort of normalcy in supporting themselves, getting around and accomplishing extraordinary things with the verbal and non verbal prejudice that exists. Your reward is earned and this day shows that with a measure passed in the UK, we now have June 13th, to officially celebrate “Albinism”. This was made effective as of June of 2015. See the link above for more details about the history of this measure. Hats off to us all! Stay connected to us via social media and join us as we continue celebrating the beauty of albinism, for years to come. 

 

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Featured Members Segment- Niesha McBurrows

The Albinism Alliance Group is moving in to 2014 focussing on the next generation. WE are looking N_McBorrows-2for more accomplished members of the AB community to share their experience. We want to celebrate the beauty of albinism in the most distinguished and professional manner. In doing so we are looking everywhere for people who want to share an inspirational moment, day in the life of their career, or tell us more about what they hope to accomplish in the next 24 months. We can inspire each other in positive ways and TAAG wants to be at the helm of something new for our community.

Check out the first presentation of the featured members section Niesha McBurrows! She is an accomplished woman, earning her doctorate of pharmacy in 2006 and working her way to the top. She is a happily married mother of two and enjoys reading in her spare time. Ms. McBurrows is an advocate and volunteers in her community and we need more good role models like her. You can read her bio at http://albinism-alliance.org/featured-members/niesha-mcborrows-featured-member/

If you would like to be featured on our website, please write to us at info@albinism-alliance.org or use the form on the featured members page. Please remember to follow up with at least three photos and expressed permission to use them with your feature story.

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Taking the World by Storm: Sir Maejor

B I O G R A P H Y

Sir Maejor decided to go into the acting and modeling arena because he wanted to take the world by storm. He is known for standing up for what is right, being different, setting tends and being original. Everyone want the money and the fame, but Sir Maejor wants to use his notoriety to create positive awareness for a topic that really doesn’t get discussed.​

Growing Up
anBnIn0Suffering from Albinism is difficult, and many decide to suffer quietly, and to live quiet lives. As a child and young adult, Sir Maejor suffered from the same taunts and stereotypes that many albinos do growing up. He often got talked about, teased and taunted because he has albinism. Sometimes even the word albino offends him, depending on how people use it. Kids and adults can be cruel, he has been negatively called Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Other, Powder, White Out, Casper, Yellowman, Lab Rat, Rat Boy, Shaun Ross, and Similac. Because those names were maliciously shouted to Sir Maejor, it really bothered him.​

Sir Maejor says In terms of struggles and setbacks, being born with albinism has been one of the hardest things to deal with in his life. Many people born with albinism can’t see. They have poor vision which means in many cases they can never drive or get jobs that require 20/20 vision or better. He says he simply can’t see the things that you may be able to see.​

Another struggle he endured was he had to realize that he was different. Sir Maejor had to adapt with what he was born with. He had to get use to this inferiority complex about himself.  He wanted to be included and be in the popular crowd and feel accepted. But it was hard when he couldn’t do what everyone else could do. He couldn’t play basketball because I couldn’t see and in school, he couldn’t play out on the playground with the rest of the other student because the sun was out and I didn’t have sunscreen.​​​

Goals and Aspirations
However, eventually Sir Maejor developed into the opposite of the common albino stereotype, an outgoing individual with dreams bigger than the skyscrapers on Atlanta’s skyline. Sir Maejor is here as an inspiration- and a reckoning- that what people identify as a disorder- can be a beautiful thing. Sir Maejor said he wants to create awareness about albinism, at the same time capitalize off his unique look, many may consider it to be a curse, but he considers albinism as a blessing.​

Sir Maejor is different and won’t allow that or anyone’s personal negative opinions of him or what he look like affect his life. One thing Sir Maejor hopes to accomplish is to show that people with disabilities, birth defects or disorders of any kind, can do whatever they desire, if they put their minds to it, something that is easier said than done. Sir Maejor tells other aspiring models to strive to make their dreams a reality, much like he is.​

Sir Maejor hopes to join the greats of (Zel) Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Dennis Haysbert and Kiefer Sutherland one day, and we can’t say we aren’t rooting for him. Sir Maejor wants to a iconic face in the business and responsible for taking your brand to new heights. Sir Maejor’s effervescent personality makes him hard to dislike; and his love of the spotlight will help him down the road in his career.​

Latest Work

Sir Maejor was featured as reoccurring background actor in Season 3 of FX’s hit TV series “American Horror Story” where he plays a Sentinel. He also is featured in films such as “Cinema One”, “Let’s Be Cops”, and “Need for Speed” all which will be released in 2014. Sir Maejor proudly thanks Directors Alfonzo Gomez, Scott Waugh, Micheal Bay and casting directors Robin Batherson , Jamie of CL Casting, and Tammy Smith

Filmography

**American Horror Story – Season 3

Cinema One

Let’s Be Cops

Need For Speed

 

External Links

http://www.SirMaejor.com (bio from website)

http://www.facebook.com/SirMaejor

http://www.twitter.com/SirMaejor

 

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Albinism Is Not A Race…

Albinism is NOT a Race

 By Joma K. Leonard

If you are a person with albinism, (PWA) you’ve heard the question before so many times. You know, the question that bothers some and others accept. The question (esp. blacks) throw around about as much as they throw around the N-word. The question that sparks debate among PWA regarding what’s right, and what’s wrong. “Are you albino?” Yeah, that question.

 

Now if you’re a PWA and you don’t mind being acknowledged as “albino” instead of “an albino”, more power to you. I refuse, and there are a few reasons why. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard acquaintances of mine describe me as “he’s albino” before “he’s cool, funny, etc.” The content of my character as an individual is totally overlooked by a mere label that barely defines me accurately. I’m well aware the people who ask this question mean no disrespect often times, however knowing there’s still a wide misconception on what albinism truly is makes me speak my mind.

 

Albinism is genetic as we all know within our own community. Many races and ethnic backgrounds have PWA among them. We exist in just about every corner of the world. Some of us are in the medical field, some are models, youtube sensations, professional tweeters, high school dropouts who turned into productive members of society, mothers, fathers, spouses, and many other things. We have our own sense of individuality; either we’ve adapted to society or we’ve been walking our own path. Albinism is more common in animals; most commonly the rat. Why would we even accept albino in a racial context knowing this?

 

Maybe because it’s been a part of what PWA deal with since childhood. A lot of us have been raised to say yes to the question, “are you albino?” Maybe some of us are so fed up with being bothered by people we just say whatever to get them to leave us alone. maybe because it’s always been this way. It doesn’t have to be. It isn’t for me. Sure, I’m a PWA but albinism is not my race; nor does it describe who I am. I have my own answer to that question. What’s yours?

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Meet Dr. Shareeffa Clarke

Dr. Shareefa ClarkeThe AB Community has many heroes and because we practice inclusion not separation from the greats with our accomplishments, The Albinism Alliance Group salutes individuals making a difference by following their dreams. I ran across an extraordinary individual while surfing twitter through “Albinism News” and was proud to meet a doctor of medicine with her own practice in the state of Florida. With her expressed permission I am profiling Dr.Clarke of Clarke Chiropractic and Rehabilitation for The Albinism Alliance Group. 

Dr. Shereffa Clarke was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She migrated to Broward County Florida with her family at the age of seven. At a very young age Dr. Clarke knew she wanted to serve her community through healthcare. 

While attending Plantation High, Dr. Clarke was a part of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) an organization that fostered young people desires to enter into healthcare occupations. She was involved with numerous other activities while in high school, graduating in the top twenty-five percent of her high school graduating class. Dr. Clarke graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Science, with the Honors College designation.  Dr. Clarke graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida where she earned the Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

Along with serving her community through chiropractic, Dr. Clarke does community service in the form of road clean up, American Heart Walk, Relay for Life, Breast Cancer Walk and much more. She is a proud Member of The Faith Center Church in Sunrise, Florida. Dr. Clarke also serves her community through education; she is an adjunct professor at Broward College in the Biology department teaching Anatomy and Physiology.

In her free time Dr. Clarke likes to play musical instruments such as the clarinet and piano which she has played since elementary school and going to Karaoke. She enjoys spending time with her parents, siblings, and close friends. The following are credits to Dr.Clarke

Humanitarian Service

Palmer Clinic Abroad – Bequia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Awards and Recognitions

  • Dean’s List Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida
  • Phi Sigma Theta Honors Fraternity
  • University of South Florida Honor College
  • National Society of Collegiate Scholars
  • Golden Key International Honor Society
  • Who’s Who Among College Students

Organizations

  • American Black Chiropractic Association -Secretary
  • Florida Chiropractic Association
  • Eternal Legendary Queens Inc.

 

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AB Community: Giving Back

Arron Tookes logoWorking with Dr. Aaron L. Tookes Ed.d to come and speak with members in Atlanta at a venue for The Albinism Alliance Group. Dr. Tookes is an administrator in the Atlanta Public School System and was my mentor in high school. At the time, Dr. Tookes was working as a vision resource teacher and was instrumental in the positive development of all his students.

He went on to earn his Masters in Education and Ph.D in education administration from Troy State University, while teaching us. His experiences have granted him the wisdom to share. I have asked him to share with us. Will keep you posted on the day and time. Venue is Center for the Visually Impaired on West Peachtree Street.

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Facebook Causes for The Albinism Alliance Group

Organizational Meeting in Fairburn

Organizational Meeting in Fairburn

Building a Powerful Impact w/Grassroots Albinism Special Interest Groups!

The Albinism Alliance Group or TAAG is an advocacy network organized to “Celebrate the Beauty of Albinism!” To accomplish this we serve as an informational resource to the community. We’re creating a series of information pertinent to understanding living with albinism and related characteristics. TAAG envisions a larger mulch-cultural resource by joining forces with other special interest grassroots organizations.

The Albinism Alliance Group was formed in March of 2003. and created from merging “The Atlanta Area Support Group” and online social network “Blonde Black Cuties”. Since then, membership has grown tremendously and we currently have 397 members around the world.

We have furthered endeavors with social networking, online activities, and meet and greets. Additional activities and events have blossomed into meaningful memories by giving people from all walks of life, an opportunity to share experiences of living with albinism. An informal atmosphere and camaraderie has contributed to irreplaceable fellowship. Join us at the next event. See you there! Follow additional updates for The Albinism Alliance Group on Facebook Causes

1. Celebrating the Beauty of Albinism

2. Developing Strong Core to Keep and Bring Persons w/ Albinism Together

3. Empower the Next Generation w/Education and the Ability to Limit Low-Vision Disadvantages.

4. Create and Connect with Visual Stimulating Communication Channels which feature persons with Albinism

5. Delivering a Cause that supports inclusion for All persons with Albinism.

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