An observation about black people...

[OfficeLinebacker]

Originally posted by: Brackis
I would say that over time there has been adaptation of the pigments to an American climate which is different from that on the coastlines of Africa.

that and the fact they aren't in the sun as much so their tans fade.

 

[newParadigm]

Proly inter-breeding, as well as less exposure to UV Radiation.

~new

 

[BigToque]

I'd say it's due to a few reasons...

1. As you move away from the equator, you are exposed to less sun. Therefore, as you move away, skin gets lighter to help the body absorb more light.

2. Overall health of the individual. One thing I noticed while I was India is that the wealthy and well nurished people were often MUCH lighter than those who were not as healthy and well fed.

3. Breeding of light and dark skinned people will make the color a little lighter as well.

That's all I've got I think.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
It's definitely a person to person thing. I'm sure the racial mixing is a part of it... However, I've seen a black girl that looked like the swiss miss girl. She was white and had blonde hair...yet both of her parents were darker than the hot chocolate her look-a-like sells. I was speechless when I learned this....I guess the point is that looks can be decieving and color and race are totally different things.

What color is the mailman?

 

[abc]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
Ok, this is a real question that popped into my mind at the mall earlier.

All of the black people that live in Africa now or are here for college are really dark, almost literally black. However, most American black people are more brown or dark tan looking. Is that because they have white in them from racial mixing over the past couple hundred years?

all i know is Beyonce would look hotter to me as she is with that ebony glow than darker...


i know blacks that have an inside joke that getting lighter is marrying 'up'

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Why think in such a limited fashion? Hell, the food we eat also might havea lot to do with it.

Because I've never thought food or climate would make a persons skin lighter. People tan, but I've never seen a dark skinned person get pale by staying away from the sun.

uhhh, you do know that we all have lineage that originates in africa right?

Yes but at one time the pre/human population was light skinned. Dark skin was an evolutionary development.. We only theorize that everyone in Africa was black at the time of the journey out.

i would say science shows otherwise but common sense asks when is the last time you saw a white ape?

Actually science shows exactly what I said. Go shave a monkey.

Dark skin was an evolutionary development after losing hair in response to UV lights affect on folate levels

Also "out of africa" is a theory and although the most accepted not the only one.

national geographics take on this thread

i would say this is good science

from the nina jablonski page:

"The earliest members of the hominid lineage probably had a mostly unpigmented or lightly pigmented integument covered with dark black hair, similar to that of the modern chimpanzee. The evolution of a naked, darkly pigmented integument occurred early in the evolution of the genus Homo. A dark epidermis protected sweat glands from UV-induced injury, thus insuring the integrity of somatic thermoregulation."

the photo on that page is brilliant. either light skinned modern humans became darker, as did the wrinkles on their feet and hands, or dark skinned humans became lighter and those wrinkles did not change. which makes more sense?

First how does anything you posted dismiss what I said. Most of it is jst a detailed version.



Yes the picture is brilliant. Don't see black peoples feet much do you?

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Why think in such a limited fashion? Hell, the food we eat also might havea lot to do with it.

Because I've never thought food or climate would make a persons skin lighter. People tan, but I've never seen a dark skinned person get pale by staying away from the sun.

uhhh, you do know that we all have lineage that originates in africa right?

Yes but at one time the pre/human population was light skinned. Dark skin was an evolutionary development.. We only theorize that everyone in Africa was black at the time of the journey out.

i would say science shows otherwise but common sense asks when is the last time you saw a white ape?

Actually science shows exactly what I said. Go shave a monkey.

Dark skin was an evolutionary development after losing hair in response to UV lights affect on folate levels

Also "out of africa" is a theory and although the most accepted not the only one.

national geographics take on this thread

i would say this is good science

from the nina jablonski page:

"The earliest members of the hominid lineage probably had a mostly unpigmented or lightly pigmented integument covered with dark black hair, similar to that of the modern chimpanzee. The evolution of a naked, darkly pigmented integument occurred early in the evolution of the genus Homo. A dark epidermis protected sweat glands from UV-induced injury, thus insuring the integrity of somatic thermoregulation."

the photo on that page is brilliant. either light skinned modern humans became darker, as did the wrinkles on their feet and hands, or dark skinned humans became lighter and those wrinkles did not change. which makes more sense?

A New Light on Skin Color

By Saadia Iqbal

Differences in skin color are intriguing, but few of us have a clear idea what causes the variations. Scientists have long known that human skin color varies with the amount of exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, but until recently they had not identified the process of natural selection that actually influences this phenomenon. Now the work of scientists Nina Jablonski and George Chaplin, of the California Academy of Sciences, casts a new light on race concepts by relating skin-color variation to evolution and reproduction.

Folate and the Sunshine Vitamin
Melanin, the brown pigment in the skin, acts as a natural sunscreen. It protects against UV, and populations in the tropics are darker skinned since there is more sunlight where they live. UV ages the skin, causes skin cancer, and?most significant to Jablonski and Chaplin's work? breaks down folate, essential vitamin B needed for cell division and producing new DNA.

Pregnant women in particular require large amounts of folate to support rapid cell division in the embryo. Women of reproductive age are advised to take folate supplements to prevent serious birth defects such as spina bifida. So if a higher melanin level is so beneficial, why isn't everyone dark-skinned?

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: classy

Originally posted by: NFS4
Most of our "people" aren't working out pickin' cotton in the hot sun anymore so our pigmentation isn't that dark I'm more of a medium brown:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/NFS4/DSC_0049.jpg

Your my color. Who's the white girl?

LOL, that's my GF, Elizabeth

rofl, "dont you be takin' our women naw" :laugh:

Just be lucky I'm not an NBA player or I'd be "stretchin' out" all yo wemins

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
It's definitely a person to person thing. I'm sure the racial mixing is a part of it... However, I've seen a black girl that looked like the swiss miss girl. She was white and had blonde hair...yet both of her parents were darker than the hot chocolate her look-a-like sells. I was speechless when I learned this....I guess the point is that looks can be decieving and color and race are totally different things.

I have the answer to this one:

She's white and her parents are black because she's adopted. Since she's a blonde, she hasn't been able to figure this out yet.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
It's definitely a person to person thing. I'm sure the racial mixing is a part of it... However, I've seen a black girl that looked like the swiss miss girl. She was white and had blonde hair...yet both of her parents were darker than the hot chocolate her look-a-like sells. I was speechless when I learned this....I guess the point is that looks can be decieving and color and race are totally different things.

I have the answer to this one:

She's white and her parents are black because she's adopted. Since she's a blonde, she hasn't been able to figure this out yet.

I think he's talking about those albino black folks. They have "black" facial features but their hair is blonde and and the skin is caucasian-like