Albino black person

[blueyedevil]

This is in no way meant to offend anyone and is a genuine question of mine and my brothers.

 

Is it possible for a black person to be albino?

 

I think it is because I'm under to understanding it is a genitic abnormality and is possible in anyone/thing, whilst my brother thinks that it can only happen to white because the dominant black gene wouldn't let it occur in a black person.

 

Help?

[landie]

Yes it is perfectly feasable to have an albino from a non-white ethnic group.

[Golem]

Yes it is, and the individual suffers terrible social stigma because of it. One of the more traditional but equally misinformed words used to identify them is dundus and a google search will bring up lots of information. The term 'albino' is slowly being replaced by albinism in recognition that it is not the person that is the condition, but that the condition is a part of the person.

[Golem]

Have just found this excellent site called The Golden Child and I quote from the site;

"This site was created in order to help people with albinism of dark skinned races communicate with each other and share information and resources. It was created so that lighter-skinned races will understand what it is like to be born into a society where you are the only blond haired, blue-eyed person for miles, or the only blond haired, white skinned person in your family."

http://www.zebracorn.com/home.htm

I'm off to do some reading!

[Joe Shmoe]

It is true a person from any ethnic origin can be born with albinoism. As it is due to a fault in the genes that produce pigmentation in the body.  

[thikasabrik]

Albinism is genetic and is autosomal recessive (both parents carry a defective gene). There are many different types of albinism and all races can be affected. In some black countries it carries a terrible stigma to have a child with albinism and there have been cases of women who have been killed because their husbands assumed they had an affair with a white man, resulting in the birth of a fair haired white skinned child. In rural Africa people with albinism are shunned. They are often sent to work in the fields and without adequate protection from the sun have a higher incidence of skin cancer due to their reduced or absent pigment.

To add to Golem's comment - people with the condition do not like to be called albino, but prefer to say they have albinism.

While I have the chance, I'd just like to point out that not all people with the condition have white hair and red eyes. Two people in my family with the condition both have beautiful big blue eyes.

If you want more info, check out the website of the Albinism Fellowship   www.albinism.org.uk

[landie]

Just an aside following my earlier post. Roy Orbison was probably the most famous person I know to have suffered from Albinism. He always wore dark glasses and kept his hair dyed black to hide the fact.