Parents of a Child with Albinism, from Mixed Racial Background, Report Incidents of Racial Abuse
Mawa Houma, a 33-year-old woman from Croydon, South London, who is of white ethnicity, and her civil partner Malcolm John, a 60-year-old man of black Caribbean heritage, have spoken out about the appalling racial abuse their daughter has endured due to her albinism and the color of her skin.
Their daughter, Julia-Marie, who is now 15 months old, was born with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. She was later diagnosed with albinism, a rare condition that affects approximately one in every 17,000 individuals.
Mawa explained that strangers often struggle to believe that Malcolm is their daughter's father and give him suspicious looks, as if he has somehow "kidnapped" the baby. Unfortunately, their little girl has also been subjected to horrific abuse due to her unique appearance.
Maгwa Hoυma, a 33-year-old woman of white ethnicity from Cгoydon, Soυth London, is the mother of Jυlia-Maгie. Her civil paгtneг, Malcolm John, 60, is of black Caгibbean heгitage. Together, they raise their daughter and navigate the challenges that come with their interracial relationship and the unique circumstances of their child's albinism.
Mawa shared the troubling experiences they faced as an interracial family. She explained, "Every time I take Julia outside, people don't pay attention to me because of my fair skin. But when they see Malcolm with Julia, it's as if they're questioning, 'What is that man doing with that baby?'" Mawa empathized with Malcolm, who would often face stares as if he had somehow taken the baby without permission. She felt the need to be courageous and advocate for her daughter's future.
Their fear extended beyond the scrutiny of their interracial relationship. They worried about Julia being bullied due to her albinism and the need for glasses. Mawa emphasized that racial abuse can target individuals regardless of their race, citing that even with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, Julia has experienced mistreatment based on her skin color.
Mawa recounted a distressing incident at the hospital when Julia was six months old. Mawa intended to take Julia to the car for feeding while Malcolm picked up a prescription. However, the lady at the pharmacy refused to take Malcolm seriously, insisting on speaking to the mother to confirm Julia's date of birth. Her disbelief in Malcolm as the father added to their frustration and challenges.
Marwa expressed that her cheerful toddler has encountered vicious discrimination, especially when she goes out with her loving father.
Upon Jvlia-Maгie's birth in June of last year, Marwa was taken aback by her daughter's remarkably fair skin tone and striking blue eyes, which didn't resemble her parents' features.
"He was fuming, and he had to come all the way to the car park and say, 'Could you come upstairs and confirm Julia's date of birth,'" Marwa recounted.
In a horrifying incident of racism, Marwa revealed that her daughter had been subjected to the derogatory term "white monkey." This vile racist outburst led Marwa to report a hate crime to the police, fearing future acts of retaliation.
Marwa decided to stop taking Julia outside altogether, refusing to tolerate any more intimidation.
As a stay-at-home mother, Marwa shared her surprise when Julia-Marie was born in June last year because her features were so different from both Marwa's and Malcolm's. Julia-Marie was born with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, whereas Marwa had expected their child to have a mixed-race appearance due to Malcolm's black Caribbean heritage.
Despite the initial shock, Julia-Marie's father embraced their baby from day one, holding her in his arms with love and devotion.
Marwa expressed her disappointment with the hospital staff who failed to recognize Julia-Marie's albinism when she was born, leading to Marwa's subsequent experience of postnatal depression.
It was only two months later that their GP identified Julia-Marie's albinism and explained the potential health risks associated with it. Julia-Marie was diagnosed with OCA1, a form of albinism that increases the risk of skin cancer from direct sun exposure. She also needs to wear glasses since her vision will never be 100%, and there is no cure for albinism.
Marwa further explained that Julia-Marie experiences photophobia, a fear of bright light, making it challenging for her to open her eyes outside. This is where Marwa's battle to protect her daughter's well-being began.
Albinism is a condition that affects the production of melanin, which determines a person's hair, eye, and skin color. Individuals with albinism are particularly susceptible to sunlight due to the lack of melanin protection.
Marwa spent most of this year's unusually hot summer indoors with Julia-Marie, feeling "paranoid" about the potential harm that strong sun rays could cause her daughter.
When they did venture out as a family, Marwa quickly noticed how Malcolm and Julia-Marie became targets of discrimination due to their visible differences.
Despite the challenges Julia-Marie has faced in her early years, she has found success in her baby modeling career and has garnered fans from around the world.
Marwa now aims to increase awareness of the medical truths surrounding albinism, hoping to combat the abuse that many individuals with the condition face daily.
She emphasized the lack of knowledge surrounding albinism, with such topics often being brushed aside and not openly discussed. Marwa admitted her own limited understanding, which contributed to her struggles during the postnatal period. As parents, they strive to raise awareness about everything they have learned since Julia's birth.
Marwa stressed the importance of people understanding what albinism truly is and the origin of the condition. Albinism is neither contagious nor a disability.
In 2022, it is disheartening to acknowledge that discrimination still exists, and racism is not limited to any particular race. Marwa believes it is essential to stand up for Julia and combat racism in all its forms, emphasizing that everyone needs to be united against discrimination.
