A Mother’s Mission: Raising Awareness After Sons with Albinism Are Bullied and Meme-Shamed

Patricia Williams joyfully welcomed her son Redd in 2012, initially thinking his white hair and sparkling blue eyes were a family trait. But when she noticed his eyes moving side to side, further investigation led to a diagnosis of Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 1 (OCA1)—a rare genetic condition affecting 1 in 17,000 people globally.

Years later, her second son, Rockwell, was also born with albinism. While their family adapted and grew more educated, they faced an unexpected cruelty: Rockwell’s newborn images were stolen and turned into memes online. Devastated, Patricia and her husband tried removing the content, but quickly realized the better approach was awareness and advocacy.

Both boys have experienced bullying, but older brother Gage fiercely defended them. Redd underwent eye surgery to correct his vision, allowing him to thrive in a public school environment. Patricia, realizing how little people understood about albinism, began using social media to educate others and normalize the condition.

Now, both Redd and Rockwell are flourishing. A video of Rockwell from “Western Day” in 2023 went viral for all the right reasons, showing how far they’ve come—from targets of cruelty to symbols of acceptance and resilience.