Are all black people from Africa?Why are we so different on the outside?
By samawati
@samawati (140)
December 10, 2009 6:40am CST
I am a native African , true to my roots. Apart from learning things from western cultures and inculcating them into my daily life I am very much an African by all defines.
By calling me an African , you are calling me by the roots of my origin not necessarily by the color of my skin.
Here now is my question.
We all know that all life originated from Africa , and people migrated onwards to where we find most cultures and peoples .. i.e. Europe , Asia etc. Could there be white Africans out there who can still trace their origin in Africa? And if this is true then why are we so different physiologically yet we are from the same species?
Is it an evolutionary rift like white tigers and yellow Indian tigers? I am really confused .. why are people so different on the outside yet we are the same under the skin?
1 person likes this
17 responses
@borg246 (539)
• Malta
10 Dec 09
Personally, I don't know how to answer you about this. However, according to scientists, they believe that because africa is a continent situated near the equator, with the hot weather, little rain and strong rays of the run, just in the same way we get tanned, is effecting the skin colour of the people. I'm not saying that it's because you in particular stood a long time in the strong sun rays, however if one of your parents would have done it, and became very dark in skin colour, the passing on of skin colour would be genetic wise, meaning if both parents are "black" for example, then their children would also be black, and not because of the sun.
Western countries and europe would be a (not white, but lighter colour) because we are further away from the sun, have regular clouds prohibiting sun light, colder weather and therefore we did not have any effect colourwise.
I also believe that your african ancestors must have been white, if this theory is true, and only by the strong rays of the sun and genetically wise, would the whole of africa been dark skinned today.
@LiveLove (443)
• United States
10 Dec 09
I have to disagree with you on a point you made about a theory. "White skinned" individuals make up less than 5% of the world's population. The majority of the world have melanin including many in Europe and this could only be the case if in the beginning everyone had melanin in their skin. For over 20,000 years the beginning populations of humanity were homogenous and dark-skinned until albinism struck some from up north and lighter skin began to appear. The fact that the majority of people are melaniated disproves any theory that "white" skin was the original color of humanity. Two dark-skinned individuals could live in a freezing cold place but would still produce dark-skinned babies as would be the same for two light skinned individuals producing light skinned babies in a hot place. Generations living in the same climate does not impact the skin colour of future generations. The parent's genes do.
@lwethu (242)
• South Africa
11 Dec 09
This is a difficult question are trying to jape us but of cause no. You just want a clarification. I am so confused as you are.Inmy sit there are black and white we were born in here but the way we do things it's total different.I think it's all about the people who are surrounding you.Why there are white africans.
@lwethu (242)
• South Africa
11 Dec 09
This is a difficult question are trying to jape us but of cause no. You just want a clarification. I am so confused as you in my sit there are black and white we were born in here but the way we do things it's total different.I think it's all about the people who are surrounding you.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
11 Dec 09
Hi Samawati. You have raised a point which is partly answerable but partly a mystery. You are completely right when you state "Yet we are the same under the skin". We ARE all of the same blood.
I am posting here a photo of TWINS: Remee, blonde and blue eyed, and Kian, dark and dark-eyed. Yes, these are twins, born to Kylie Hodgson and Remi Horder in April 2005 in Nottingham UK.
Both parents have middle brown complexion and both have "white" mothers and "black" fathers. Remee is "white" and Kian is "black".
The Bible says we are all one race; one blood. With the right genes, it is possible that all the different complexions of people can appear in one generation.
I realise this does not answer the question of why the vast majority of people in Africa are "black" and in Europe are "white" so let's look at something else found in the Bible.
At the Tower of Babel, it is recorded that God separated the people by changing their languages. Those speaking the same language gathered together and dispersed in different directions, settling different areas. The Bible does NOT record any other change than that in language, but it is possible that God ALSO changed skin colouring and features to further help the separation of the various groups.
I hope this helps to shed a little light on the subject.
@iceydon (342)
• Philippines
11 Dec 09
I think adaptation and evolution could answer the question on physiological differences yet same species. Studies had attested to the fact that human life originate from Africa. Geographic aspect of migration had to do with the evolutionary outcome of each human adaptation that lead to the coining of term race.
@jemaries (321)
• Saudi Arabia
11 Dec 09
well i think its the evolution of man , years may past the original person may varies or changes from years may come like the animals from dinosaurs age they are bigger in there centuries but these generation we can see some animals like them but in small or medium sizes.No matter where you came from or what is originated unless you became good person and doesnt harm nobody.
Some people have changes because when people migrates to other country maybe its also a factor or when they married to other nationalities but its not pure.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
10 Dec 09
Well, according to science, all human genes trace back to Africa, but what happened was many people left Africa and over time adapted to the environments in which they were living. Humans became different from each other. I am everything in one. I have all different races in me. I know this because I was able to trace back some of my family history. I do not deny what is in me. I know many people who will, but I will not.
@AcousticSoul (1309)
• United States
10 Dec 09
Well I was told climate differences is what changed people physically. Its colder in Europe therefore skin is lighter, its hot in africa so skin is darker. its has something to do with the food that is consumed as well. this is a deep discussion I wish I had all the facts to provide but so many have so many theories its really hard to pin point. great question
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
10 Dec 09
that's what I always wonder about. Im asian and when i came to the america and I see mexican, african american, american and white people... I wonder why they look different. But my sister told me that i remember cuz of where we came from. you like in a hot place and it might make ur skin darker than whoever live in cold place... hahaha.... still can't believe what she said.
@gayathri_nugur (125)
• India
11 Dec 09
that is only because of the variations in climate of that place,it is not important that u should be of a fair complexion only,u should always be a good person by heart that should be your motto
@LiveLove (443)
• United States
10 Dec 09
Technically a white African is a albino. White isn't a human color but is a color caused by skin diseases (albinism, leprosy, vitiligo). I think the way Black, Brown, White is being used today is also just a cultural thing. When I say "I am Black" I'm indicating an ethnic identity that has predefined cultural values, beliefs, and systems. It has nothing to do with "race" but that is merely my opinion because I don't believe in the social construct of "race". But it is also the same thing with White. When someone says "I am White", they are not talking about the skin disease white but the ethnic identity associated with being "White" (some European traditions, values, beliefs, etc..). But to answer the difference on the outside question it goes back to albinism for the appearance of white skin but there was also gene flow, selective breeding, mutations, adaptation that has created the wide variety in the appearance of humans. But we are all still humans.
@nautilus33 (1827)
•
10 Dec 09
Hi, samawati! I think yes, all the black people are from Africa. There are also money people in South America,but they are not so different. We are all so different from each other, because of the place where we live. For example, the people from Africa have curly hair and wide noses, because of the heat. The curly hair hold back more air in it, than the lank hair. There are many typical marks for each race.
@allknowing (137379)
• India
10 Dec 09
This question about race has been bothering me too. Look around you and you will find so many races with different skin colour. Japanese are known as the yellow race. Here in India we have all shades of brown and some are quite dark. Look at the Chinese and some other race they have chinky eyes. That is how it is ordained and I am still struggling to find out where and how so many varieties came about!!!
@grajesh29 (99)
• India
10 Dec 09
i think so all people are black because they are very close to the equator,they recieve more heat compared to others countries...where they look for sunshine throughout the year...
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
10 Dec 09
yeah this can be tricky thing to answer and look at. because my parents family comes from different country like germany to me it dont make me german or irish american.
i am americans just like you. but i am proud of where my family come too as you are.
@GADHISUNU (2162)
• India
10 Dec 09
This is the real puzzle that needs solving, now that it has been very decisively established by the Human Genome Project that there is absolutely no difference at the genetic material level between an African and say a European, or say the Chinese!?! What makes us all different on the outside is in my understanding is still an resolved question. Any theory offered has some flaw or the other.
@CatherineLeeV (49)
• China
10 Dec 09
Hi. Uh..I always believe that environment can change a person. Maybe people would change their thoughts and habits when move to different places, let alone that you were growing up in different environment. Maybe your same origin just gave you the similar appearance,determined by Gene. There's something related to the society and culture. Maybe a sociologist can solve your question.lol