NPR: Black Reporter Deals with 'Turning White'

Black Reporter Deals with 'Turning White'

TV reporter and author Lee Thomas

From 'Turning White: A Memoir of Change'

Lee Thomas was at a breakthrough point in his career as a TV reporter when he was diagnosed with vitiligo--a disorder that eats away at the pigment of his skin. We interviewed him this morning on the BPP about his decision to go public and write about his experience. For more information, check out the National Vitiligo Foundation and the Turning White Foundation, which he started.

Some proceeds from his book, Turning White: A Memoir of Change, will go to both organizations.

Alison Stewart

10:11 AM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I can really feel for one that has to deal with a disease such as this. I watched Lee on Larry King. At one point in the interview Larry asked if Lee would prefer to just turn all white. Obviously, Larry wasn't asking it as if Lee would prefer to represent himself as one of another race, rather that he would no longer have to deal with the makeup, since he was a black man turning white and not the other way around. Lee's comment was very revealing of his heart. His responese was about race rather than the hassle of dealing with daily makeup. Then he said "maybe if I want to be treated better at taxtime!" WHAT? He even repeated this response!! Clearly, Lee has problems beyond his disease. Lee has serious racial issues. His responses reveal a man full of race. One may reason that maybe this is why he is having to deal with this disease.

Sent by Derek Jackson | 9:54 PM ET | 01-07-2008

I had vitiligo for over 40 years of my life,and I been hard I grow up in a small city in colombia,and everybody was ignorant about vitiligo,I was the only person in the whole school and I was very hard to handle situacion,I always ask God why me I was only 7 years old.

Sent by beatriz boehm | 12:53 AM ET | 01-08-2008

cnn

Sent by Deme | 1:54 PM ET | 01-08-2008

In reference to the Larry King interview.
Larry King, asked Lee thomas, would he prefer to be white. I got Larry king's comment as. WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO BE WHITE? Lee Thomas should have asked King would he want to be black. I am sure that would have been an interesting conversation. Would you not agree.
Why does everything has to be based on RACE?
It's not easy being a PROUD BLACK WOMEN, only to look in the mirror daily and see oneself being robbed of ones true beautiful color.
Just imagine being WHITE and developing a disease, that starts to turn you BLACK. How would you really feel?
I have nothing but love For Thomas, I give him so much credit for revealing himself to the public, whom can be so rude and ignorant. And, showing the true face of such an unattrative disease called VITILIGO.

Sent by anderson | 11:18 PM ET | 01-10-2008

I am a white woman and also have been dealing with vitiligo for about 8 years. It's on the front of my legs and on my back. The cause has been concluded that when my physician in the U.S.A. insisted I change my thyroid medication from cytomel to synthroid immediately, it caused the onset of the vitiligo. I now live in Panama and have been treating it to little avail with Avitil(Novotil)for about 2 years. The best I can do is avoid the sun, no easy trick in Panama , so there is less contrast between sun exposed skin and the skin with no pigment.I have considered getting skin colored tatoos to fill in the affected areas. Inthe meantime I wear slacks or longer skirts and have grown my hair longer so it covers my back. Makeup seems to call attention to the problem.

Sent by Ellen Friedlander | 4:43 PM ET | 01-13-2008

I feel your pain. I am a white woman who has suffered with vitiligo for over 25 years. I was diagnosed at 20. Just going out at lunch time is enough to trigger the spots during the spring and I deal with it until October. Men don't understand why I don't wear shorts in the summer. I can't-- it looks hideous. I have days where I feel like a leper. Hang in there!

Sent by Mary Foote | 5:50 PM ET | 01-19-2008

Am worried with my 3 year old daughter who was confirmed to be suffering with the same diesase VITILIgo. my worry is hers is on the private part and she is a girl. Please tell me more abour this diesease, how to deal with it, how do I advise my daughter, How do I stop it from spreading etc.

Sent by Jane | 11:51 AM ET | 05-06-2008

I am a 28yr old white female. I have been dealing with vitiligo for about 16 years. My current job as an interpretive park ranger forces me to explain to children every single day why I look the way I do. I have come up with some rather interesting responses. I tell them most of the time that this is my camouflage. All of the kids think that is the coolest,and they want camouflage! It does however constantly remind me that I am not normal. But then there are the children who tell me how pretty I am, and that brings the biggest smile to my face! I am interested in writing a book about my experiences as well as doing public speaking on the matter, I just don't know how or where to get started!

Sent by Heather Hayes | 4:43 PM ET | 05-17-2008

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