Lee Thomas: How I help people understand vitiligo
لي توماس: كيف أساعد الناس على فهم البهاق؟
Lee Thomas has loved to watch, write and share stories his entire life. Full bio
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in Lawton, Oklahoma,
في لاوتون، أوكلاهوما،
between TV reporter or actor.
with such spirit when she comes."
بهذه الروح عندما تحضر."
is getting white patches,
في مدينة نيويورك.
"Eyewitness News" in New York City.
وهي الأعلى تقييمًا.
right in the eye and said,
where you lose your pigment.
but there a-la-la-la-la".
All I heard was, "My career is over."
وكل ما سمعته: "انتهى مستقبلي المهني."
instead of to detention,
والدراما بدلًا من الحجز،
part of my college expenses,
من نفقات دراستي الجامعية،
and keep it moving.
It's TV, baby, right?
فهذا هو التلفاز، أليس كذلك؟
and everything's cool.
ويصبح كل شيء بخير.
went very well for years.
in New York City
and ever-changing.
and I'm wearing the makeup
أصبح رجل التلفاز.
I'm the TV guy.
and it was like being a leper.
to the other side of the sidewalk,
to the other side of life.
إلى الجانب الآخر من الحياة.
till I get my mind right.
into this angry, grumpy, spotted guy.
إلى شخص غاضب نكد مبقع.
and do what they gonna do.
to react with negativity,
the change had to start with me.
when I got this disease,
staring at every new spot
have that same opportunity
more difficult than I thought.
and this dude is like staring at me,
in the side of my head.
he's staring at me,
checking out, he's staring at me,
he's still staring at me,
and I go, "Hey buddy, what's up!"
"مرحبًا، كيف حالك!"
it's not life-threatening,
لخمس دقائق تقريبًا.
for like five minutes.
of our conversation, he says,
didn't have 'vitilargo'" --
but he was trying, so --
ولكنه كان يحاول على أي حال...
you'd look just like that guy on TV."
مثل هذا الشخص في التلفاز."
yeah, I get that, I get that, yeah."
to watch the kids play.
لمشاهدة الأطفال وهم يلعبون.
this little girl wasn't paying attention,
into my leg and falls down, pretty hard.
برجلي وسقطت بشدة.
and help the little girl
she wasn't trying to be mean.
لم تتعمد أن تكون لئيمة معي.
and put my hands by my side.
and three days on that one.
لأسبوعين وثلاثة أيام بسبب ذلك.
to get my mind around the fact
that I could not smile away.
reaching on the bottom shelf,
أحاول الوصول إلى الرف السفلي،
"You've got a boo-boo?"
same age, little girl,
أو الثالثة من العمر أيضًا،
so I look up at the mom,
نظرت إلى الأم،
you have a boo-boo."
a boo-boo, no, not at all."
I'm not hurt at all, I'm fine."
reaches out with that little hand
the chocolate into the vanilla
worth fighting for,
positive changes in your life,
لأب يعمل مذيعًا بالتلفاز،
I thought I was going to lose my job,
فقد ظننت أني سأخسر عملي،
and explain this to them,
and focused it back on the kid
all over the country.
and celebrated World Vitiligo Day.
واحتفلنا بيوم البهاق العالمي.
living with this disease,
in front of a room full of strangers
في غرفة مليئة بالغرباء
the toughest stories in his life
that you all just smiled back.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lee Thomas - Broadcast journalist, diversity advocateLee Thomas has loved to watch, write and share stories his entire life.
Why you should listen
An Emmy-winning entertainment reporter, Lee Thomas's movie review show, "CriticLee Speaking," and his reports originate from WJBK Fox 2 in Detroit, Michigan. Turning White, Thomas's personal memoir of living with the skin disease vitiligo, gained world attention launching his passion to create a clear global path for self acceptance, diversity and inclusion. He is the global spokesperson for the Vitiligo Society of London and Vstrong USA as well as a Certified Diversity Professional with the National Diversity Council (NDCCDP).
Lee Thomas | Speaker | TED.com