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Cultural Exposure: Albinism and Africa

August 30, 2017 by Jim Potter Leave a Comment

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 ·  Albinism and Africa  ·

“Suanna” sculpture by J. Alex Potter. Photograph by Gina Laiso.

I’ve never been to Tanzania, but I’ve researched the country, especially the PWA community. The acronym stands for People With Albinism.

If you want to learn more about the genetic condition called albinism, I recommend the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH).

If you want information on the fight against attacks on people with albinism, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, then Under the Same Sun (UTSS), operated out of Canada, is the best organization.

Here is a quotation from Peter Ash, founder and CEO of UTSS: “I have a dream that one day people with albinism will take their rightful place in every level of society, and that the days of discrimination will be a faint memory.”

Suanna Morningcloud is a twelve-year-old character in my contemporary novel, Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. Born and raised in Kansas, her genetic condition (which does not produce melanin) challenges her to adapt to the sun’s punishing ultraviolet power, but worse, to deal with unrelenting stigma.

From an early age, we all learn that being different causes one to stand out. Being in the spotlight can cause us to shine, or it can overwhelm us if we are blinded by the attention.

This is how I introduce Suanna in Taking Back the Bullet: “Throughout her short life, long before Officer Jennings knew her, Suanna was repeatedly a natural target from the insecure who grasped at others to pull them down to their chaotic level. She was born not dark or light, not bronze, but with an absence of all color. In what seemed inexplicable, she was born with albinism, most rare in nature.”

“Suhaila” sculpture by J. Alex Potter

In the novel, Suanna is exposed to other cultures with PWA’s where they are treated differently than in the United States. One such place is the rural Misenyi District, Tanzania.

While my character-driven literary fiction is upbeat, in this chapter, a dream of Suanna’s, she is shaken by the cruel world around her.

“Despite their youthful ages, the girls already knew that evil witch doctors, not the modern healers they relied on, would encourage albino mutilation or murder for their blood or body parts. This magical ritual or sacrifice was known as muti medicine. It was gruesome just thinking about the stories of targeted children.”

My decades of educating children about personal safety awareness made this chapter fascinating for me on so many levels. Parents want to protect their children the best they can while simultaneously giving them freedom to explore and mature.

In setting the scene for this African dream, the reader meets Suhaila. She’s known locally as the “Princess of Parrots,” or “Bird Whisperer,” because of her bond with the many African grey parrots.

African grey parrot tatoo

While I regularly imagine or create my literary characters, Suhaila was “borrowed” from my wife’s studio after Alex sculpted the piece and added an African parrot tattoo on her back!

This partnership of sharing stories encourages; this connectivity is an artist’s dream come true. Alex visualized the spiritual story of Suhalia before she could mold her from clay.

Once Suhaila was decorated and dressed, she was whole, ready to audition, to meet people.

Her impact on me was so powerful that I couldn’t help but add her to Suanna’s story in my novel.

In this way Suhaila’s spirit, like a shape-shifter, lives on as she becomes a literary character waiting to connect to a welcoming reader.

Until next time, happy writing and reading!

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Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a… Read more “Larry Kruckman, anthropologist”

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental… Read more “Morgan Penner”

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centers on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to… Read more “Sean McArdle, Winchester, England”

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller… Read more “Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist”

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters… Read more “John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement”

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

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