Challenged Identity

Do we call it challenged identity?

She does not understand why am distressed over losing my precious brown pigment progressively
She says its simply cosmetic
She says its nothing really as her mother had confirmed to her I need not worry
Is your mother a Doctor/Dermatologist or ever experienced such directly or indirectly?
She maintains my worry is vain
She maintains she see no reason why I should be campaigning for the cause

She did not go to work someday and I inquired why?
She asked that I take a close look at her,
I saw nothing
She was angry that I couldn’t see the boil at a corner of her face
I wondered why she was referring to it
Its because of that she couldn’t go to work
She could not face the public with a tiny boil
But she believes I should live comfortably with my black and white face

She continues to pester me to cover my patches with make-up
Different suggestions from all angles as to what could help
I wondered why no-one wanted to find out what am comfortable in at that point
All I tried to say matters not; they wanted me to look how they want
I must see some prophet as I had been bewitched
It must have been nemesis or some curse on me
They were beginning to avoid me,
The stares and nasty comments were becoming unbearable
Pity, dare I say ‘lip pity’ greeted me from all angle
Can’t someone feel my pain and see from my view?
A great confirmation that I live in a community that simply play lip pity
Empathy was very far from it all, there was no empathy

I became scared of my future
Ignorant ruled
Yes whatever we do not understand in Africa must be some spiritual or magical powers
Thanks to our deep religious orientation

Fear motivated me to become a loudspeaker
For Vitiligo victims in Africa and beyond

Let us call forth voice
where before there was silence and absolute ignorance.
Let us educate and enlighten
Let’s share the challenges we face
Let’s get the world see our pains as we are neglected in our world
Let’s bring Vitiligo cause to world center stage.

A world where vitiligo victims can be understood
Where we will start living meaningfully and not just exist
Where our employers, friends will see beyond just wanting us to be what they want
Where relationships will be restored
by simply sharing our stories

It was not as easy as I thought
I expected the world to empathize with us and jump at it
It’s one cause with so much sacrifice
I am determined to go all the way
My passion and positive impact on victims continue to motivate me

We are getting our voices out
The world is getting it
Resilience gets you there
Voices from different communities, millions of voices strong

This is to enrich public understanding of the challenges and stimulate far-reaching and probing conversations for improved life.
This is my contribution to making the World a better place
This is my contribution to Vitiligo Community

THIS IS all VITSAF is about
Communicating effectively challenges and everyday lives of the affected to the open society for action
How it matters & how it affects quality of life and Rights of the distressed
Be part of us.