How I help people understand vitiligo | Lee Thomas

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4.1 • 11.9K Ratings

🗓️ 29 August 2019

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

TV news anchor Lee Thomas thought his career was over after he was diagnosed with vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that left large patches of his skin without pigment and led to derision and stares. In a captivating talk, he shares how he discovered a way to counter misunderstanding and fear around his appearance with engagement, dialogue -- and a smile. "Positivity is something worth fighting for, and the fight is not with others -- it's internal," Thomas says. "If you want to make positive changes in your life, you have to consistently be positive."

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This TED Talk features broadcaster Lee Thomas, recorded live at TED Salon Trailblazers 2019.
0:10.3	When I was young, I wanted to be on TV.
0:14.5	The lights, the cameras, the makeup, the glamorous life.
0:25.2	And from my vantage point, just outside of a military base in Latin Oklahoma, I didn't make the distinction between TV reporter or actor. It was all the same to me.
0:32.3	It was either reporting live from Berlin or I shall attend her here and woo her with such spirit when she comes.
0:40.5	It was all special, it was all the spotlight, and I just knew that it was for me.
0:47.8	But somewhere along my journey, life happened.
0:53.6	I have a disease called Vidlaigo.
0:56.0	It started early in my career.
0:59.8	It's an autoimmune disorder.
1:03.3	It's where it looks like your skin's getting white patches, but it's actually void of color.
1:09.3	It affects all ethnicities. It affects all ages, all genders.
1:15.8	It's not contagious. It's not life-threatening. But it is mental warfare. It's tough.
1:25.0	Now, I was diagnosed with this disease when I was working on eyewitness news in New York City.
1:30.4	I was in the biggest city in the country.
1:33.5	I was on their flagship station, and I was on their top-rated 5 p.m. newscast.
1:40.5	And the doctor looked me right in the eye and said,
1:42.8	You have a disease called Vidligo.
1:44.9	It's a skin disorder where you lose your pigment.
1:49.4	There is no cure, but they're, uh, la, la, la, Charlie Brown's teacher.
1:54.8	He said there is no cure.
1:56.5	All I heard was, my career is over.
	...

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