A photograph of a black man holding a white baby has gone viral on social media. As viewers began to realize what was really happening in the snapshot, they couldn’t believe their eyes.
“So a lot of people like this picture. So I wanted to take a minute to tell the story,” Facebook user Cody Shugart captioned a snapshot of his son sitting in the lap of a black man. Shugart went on to identify the black man as Milton West, who was his childhood next door neighbor. Shugart had many a good memory with Milton West at the center.
Milton West was my childhood next door neighbor,” wrote Shugart. “I knew him as Mr. Chip. He retired from DOW chemical as an operator. He has always been there for me since I was two years old. Growing up without a father was always difficult for me. But the good lord surrounded me with great men, Mr.Chip was one of them.”
“He constantly preached the value of an education, taught me how to take care of a yard, he taught me to see people for who they are not what they look like, he taught me how to treat my mother like a saint and many other life lessons,” added Shugart. “His contributions to me becoming a good son, man, and father were huge. I am forever grateful for God putting him in my life.”
“Everyday, I read something negative and how race relations are worse than ever. I disagree, and I hope this is a positive loving message to many people. This is just one story in little ol Victoria, Texas. I’m sure there are millions of similar stories across the United States,” he concluded.
Baby with White Hair Mocked – See His Stunning Transformation Years Later
In 2012, Patricia and Dale Williams welcomed a special addition to their family: baby Redd. Amid their immense joy, they quickly noticed something unique about him—his snow-white hair, a striking feature that set him apart from other infants. When Redd was about two months old, his parents observed his eyes constantly moving from side to side, which sparked concern.
Worried, they searched online for information and suspected that Redd might have albinism. Determined to find answers, they scheduled appointments with optometrists and genetic specialists. Their suspicions were confirmed when Redd was diagnosed with Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 1 (OCA1), a rare condition affecting only 1 in 17,000 people worldwide.
Initially, the hospital staff marveled at Redd’s unique appearance, expecting his hair color to change as he grew older. However, after the diagnosis, Patricia realized that Redd’s distinctive white hair and blue eyes, which occasionally shimmered red in certain lights, would be a permanent part of his identity.
In 2018, the Williams family welcomed another son, Rockwell, who also shared Redd’s condition.
Despite their parents’ efforts to instill confidence, both Redd and Rockwell faced adversity at school, enduring teasing and bullying due to their appearance. Their older brother, Gage, who does not have albinism, became their protective shield, but the challenges persisted.
The family faced a distressing incident when a photo of Rockwell shared on social media turned into a meme and spread rapidly across the internet despite their pleas for its removal.
Refusing to let negativity overwhelm them, Patricia and Dale chose a different path—they became advocates, driven by a mission to raise awareness about albinism. Patricia’s social media platform grew significantly after Rockwell’s photo went viral, prompting numerous inquiries that revealed the widespread lack of understanding about albinism in society.
Redd underwent corrective eye surgery for his strabismus, transitioning from a specialized school for visually impaired children to a public institution. This decision significantly improved Redd’s life; the family opted for surgery over eye patches to minimize attention and reduce bullying.
On April 28, 2023, Patricia shared a heartwarming video of Rockwell participating in his school’s “Western Day.” This time, the response on social media was overwhelmingly positive, contrasting starkly with the past instances of name-calling and ridicule.
Today, both Redd and Rockwell are thriving in their own unique ways.
Consider sharing this story to spread awareness and support for individuals with albinism among your family and friends.
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