They were even told their mother had died to stop them from wanting to go back home. The Muse brothers didn’t get to go to school or learn to read during this time, and they weren’t paid for their work. In the early 20th century, circuses and traveling carnivals were a leading form of entertainment for people throughout the United States. Shelton was searching for sideshow attractions that could match the popularity of renowned acts like the conjoined twins from Thailand, known as Chang and Eng, or the dwarf brothers from Ohio, famously labeled the Wild Men of Borneo by circus showman PT Barnum. In 1899, six-year-old George and his nine-year-old brother Willie came to the attention of a “freak hunter” named James Herman “Candy” Shelton. The boys were expected to contribute by protecting the tobacco plants from pests, a task that involved eradicating potential threats before they could harm the precious crop.Īlthough Harriett Muse cared for her sons as best as she could, their life was characterized by grueling manual labor and the looming threat of racial violence.īeing Black children with albinism made the Muse brothers even more vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment. Much like their neighbors, the Muse family relied on sharecropping tobacco for their livelihood. The Muse brothers: Willie (left) and George with showman Al G Barnes, 1918-22. Their struggles with light sensitivity began so early that by the ages of six and nine, they already had permanent furrows etched into their foreheads. In addition to albinism, both boys also had nystagmus, a common occurrence with albinism that affected their vision. George and Willie Muse, the eldest of five siblings, were born to Harriett Muse in the small community of Truevine on the outskirts of Roanoke, Virginia.īorn with albinism, a genetic condition that bestowed upon them pale skin, white hair, and striking blue eyes, they possessed features that set them apart from their peers. Their story is one of uniqueness, exploitation, and, ultimately, liberation. Their lives took a dramatic turn when they were plucked from a Virginia farm and thrust into the bright lights of the circus world. In the early 20th century, a captivating yet heart-wrenching story unfolded, centered around two albino African-American brothers, George and Willie Muse. The Muse Brothers: How Two Kidnapped Albino African-American Brothers Became Unwilling Circus Stars
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