Imagine being the only white person living among a primitive African tribe. This was the reality for a professor who spent years teaching the tribe members reading, writing, math, and science. The tribe had never seen a white person before, so when the chief’s wife gave birth to a white child, everyone was shocked.
The chief approached the professor, pulling him aside to have a private conversation. He said, “Look here! You’re the only white man we’ve ever seen, and this woman gives birth to a white child. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what happened!”
The professor, trying to ease the chief’s concerns, calmly replied, “No, Chief. You’re mistaken. What you have here is a natural occurrence, what we call an albino! Look at that field over there. All of the sheep are white except for one black one. Sometimes, things like this just happen.”
After a brief moment of silence, the chief spoke again, saying, “Tell you what. You don’t say anything more about that sheep, and I won’t say anything more about that white child.”
The humorous exchange between the professor and the chief highlights the power of understanding and acceptance. Sometimes, things happen in nature that may seem strange or unusual, but it’s essential to approach them with an open mind and a willingness to learn. In this case, the professor’s explanation of albinism helped bridge the gap between two vastly different cultures.
It’s important for us all to remember that diversity exists in various forms, and our ability to embrace and celebrate these differences is what brings us together as human beings. Let’s learn from the wisdom of the chief and the professor and strive for understanding in all aspects of life.
