Melanin: Who We Are

It's Black History Month! My FAVORITE month, so let's start it off by talking about what Black history is... Who we are! You may ask 10 people what their interpretation of a Black person is and get ten different answers. Some take pride in being called Black although this term was originally created to dehumanize and discredit the humanity of people from the African continent. This was done to serve the colonial and imperialist agendas of Europe and the US and to boost a false sense of white superiority.

But okay moving on to the positive! We recreate the meaning! Black represents melanin, which is a black chemical. Melanin is overwhelmingly comprised of carbon, which is one of the most abundant elements found in the universe. Not only is it cosmic, planetary, but it is also present in plants and throughout the animal kingdom! Let's talk more about all of that amazingness!

There are three types of melanin EuMelanin and Pheomelanin, the two are externally expressed through black and brown pigmentation and color. The third Neuromelanin is internal, operating through embryogenesis in our brains, this is located in the central nervous system.

History fact! Research shows that melanated people have existed on planet earth for thousands and thousands of years and were the original inhabitants of every continent except Europe and Central Asia; the inhabitation of these areas came thousands of years after melanated people. But that’s off-topic, if you wish, feel free to research the Upper Paleolithic period, “The Ice Age” or biochemical changes, and SLC24A5 and SLC45A2 depigmentation.

Back to Melanin! According to Dr. Edward Bruce Bynum, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., a clinical psychologist "Melanin absorbs light, a fact with immense evolutionary, neurological, and psycho-spiritual implications". The science of “Melanin” is intriguing. Melanin is what gives us intelligence and our ability to survive despite all that society throws at us. It is present in just about every organ of the body.

The chemical structure of melanin absorbs all sources of light including sunlight. Simultaneously, melanin protects the skin from UV radiation, sunburn… it’s a natural sunscreen that reduces the risk of not only skin cancer but also wrinkles. That’s why they say “Black don’t crack!” Melanin protects us from hearing loss makes our nosey butts hear better, lowers our risk of health complications, this is including maternal birth defects and reproductive health. The beautiful coily hair that most melanated people have helps regulate body temperature by increasing the circulation of cool air onto the scalp.

It also absorbs and makes it difficult for energy to escape, this includes music, sound, vibrational frequencies. This is all shown in rhythm and style, the creators of classical music, rhythm & blues, etc. were melanated.

Melanin is connected to the earth; charged by the sun, we lit ya’ll! But this is also why it is important for Black or all people in this sense; to surround themselves with organic and authentic energy. We are the music that we listen to. Hence, the rap music propaganda and agenda. So meditate, practice some Kemetic yoga and surround yourselves with nothing but positive energy. Protect your mental and spirituality by any means necessary! We also need more sunlight than others due to the synergy of vitamin D and sun absorption.

“Melanin is an incomparable beauty. From the lightest to the darkest skin tone, Black women and Black girls are exquisite beauty in every shade. Yes, Black females have that special something that just can’t be ignored. We are Melanin Queens, beautifully created! Respect the complexion. No matter what shade of MELANIN you are, know that your skin tone is brilliant. You, my Queen, are phenomenally made!”

― Stephanie Lahart

References

Beleza, S., Santos, A. M., McEvoy, B., Alves, I., Martinho, C., Cameron, E., Shriver, M. D., Parra, E. J., & Rocha, J. (2013). The timing of pigmentation lightening in Europeans. Molecular biology and evolution, 30(1), 24–35. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mss207

Brenner, M., & Hearing, V. J. (2008). The protective role of melanin against UV damage in human skin. Photochemistry and photobiology, 84(3), 539–549. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00226.x

Cloete, E., Khumalo, N. P., & Ngoepe, M. N. (2019). The what, why and how of curly hair: a review. Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences, 475(2231), 20190516. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2019.0516

Nair, R., & Maseeh, A. (2012). Vitamin D: The "sunshine" vitamin. Journal of pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics, 3(2), 118–126. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-500X.95506

Pratt, S. R., Kuller, L., Talbott, E. O., McHugh-Pemu, K., Buhari, A. M., & Xu, X. (2009). Prevalence of hearing loss in Black and White elders: results of the Cardiovascular Health Study. Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR, 52(4), 973–989. https://doi.org/10.1044/1092-4388(2009/08-0026)

Windham, G. C., Bjerkedal, T., & Sever, L. E. (1982). The association of twinning and neural tube defects: studies in Los Angeles, California, and Norway. Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae, 31(3-4), 165–172. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0001566000008254