Talk:Melanin theory

do not speak on someone or something you know nothing about! until you practice a "wholistic" lifestyle yourself that is in line with principles and many other scholars have set in stone....do not comment! If you cannot comprehend the information, that's fine, but there are many other brothers and sisters who value the information that she and many others provide for our people! Please keep your "opinions" to yourself!

Info in this article should also appear in Melanin

No time, but it seems to me some of the information I've presented here under "Conspiracy theories: Drug addiction" should appear in the article on Melanin. I may do it later, but if someone wants to include it there (not verbatim, but a respectable attempt at reworking the info), then by all means go ahead and do it. You'll probably get around to it before I do. deeceevoice (talk) 06:52, 9 July 2009 (UTC)

Conspiracy theories section

This section states a fact, unsourced, and then goes on to make some vague conclusion that I just don't comprehend... putting it here for others to comment upon, at least shine some light on it.

Higher cutaneous melanin levels, specifically in Black populations, play a role in certain known health risks related to drug addiction and hypertension, leading to the postulation of theories of white supremacist conspiracies targeting people of color.

Auntie E. 17:32, 1 September 2009 (UTC)

¶ I recall reading, in some of the Afro-American tabloids in the 1980s and 1990s, about the claim that melanin would (among other things) give misleading (incriminating) results in drug tests, and so forth, as well as notions that high melanin levels in skin (i.e., dark skin) was indicative of intellectual, artistic, physical or moral gifts. The propagandists for these claims were referred to, in the black-oriented publications, as "melanin scholars" (but without quote marks or any indication that the sobriquet was anything but serious and sincere). As discussion of melanin generally involved very recondite biochemistry data, it was difficult and rare to find someone to dispute the "theory". Sussmanbern (talk) 17:05, 11 March 2011 (UTC)

Parkinson's

This article puts out the idea parkinson's is correlated with skin color. It's reference is merely to an article from 1972. More recent research finds hispanics to have it even higher than whites, who are darker than them: http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/157/11/1015

Science Of Melanin

--user: Aton CrowAton Crow (talk) 21:42, 15 September 2010 (UTC) I Thought that this information should be relevant http://www.assatashakur.org/forum/afrikan-wholistic-health/11932-melanin-story-chinese.html

Melanin Factors

Karanja Keita Carroll

One of the most controversial areas of Afrikan/Black psychology is the role of melanin within certain areas of theory and research. While this topic is controversial and actually causes some to disregard this research, we must continually critically investigate the theories and research that is produced around this biological chemical of life. Azibo (2002) actually argues, “[t]his area of study is deserving of our best scholarship, not our ignorant, out of hand, and deferential to white sensibilities derision” (p. 429). In accord with Azibo’s statement, this essay will attempt to systematically engage the role of melanin within humans, and Afrikans in particular. The information presented here will also show the connections Afrikan/Black psychologists are able to make between melanin and Afrikan behavioral functioning.

Melanin can be defined as a class of pigments found in the cosmos. Etymologically the term comes from the Greek melanos, meaning black (Barnes, 1988). There are four major types of melanin: eumelanin, phaeomelanin, allomelanin and neuromelanin. Each type of melanin represents a different composition and location within the body. While the first three types of melanin can be found throughout areas of the body, neuromelanin is the only type of melanin found in the brain (Owens Moore, 1995; King, 1991a, 1991b). The most important feature of melanin is its ability to absorb, retain, store and regenerate energy.

To understand the importance of melanin to optimal human functioning we must look at the foundation of creation in human beings. This process is known as embryogenesis. According to Bynum (1999),

During embryogenesis or the development of the embryo in the uterus, there is an interesting unfoldment. After conception the female egg begins to divide into a cluster of fetal cells called a blastula. The initial blastula unfolds three distinct layers of cells, the outermost level or ectoderm, the inner layer or endoderm, and the mesoderm...The ectoderm layer contains melanin in high concentrations throughout its region (Pearse, 1969; Pearse & Takor, 1976). Only 28 hours after conception, the ectoderm has moved into the interior of the blastula and begun to form a neural tube. During embryogenesis, this neural tube develops into the precursor of the brain and spinal line. The neural tube unfolds into the spinal cord, the end of the tube or the neural crest mid-point develops into the brain, and very importantly, the cells along the tube evolve into light sensitive melanocytes, which eventually develop into all of the endocrine glands, e.g., pineal, pituitary, adrenal, mast cells, hypothalamus, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas and others that will develop in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and heart (King, 1990; Welbourn, 1977). (p. 148-159)

While this extensive quotation by Bynum clearly shows the role of melanin in the embroygenesis process, what must be understood is that without melanin in this process, life does not begin.

Also, from this extensive quotation, we are able to see the many areas melanin affects the human system. The most important layer of the blastula is the ectoderm which creates the neural tube, neural crest, and the epidermal layer. The neural tube and neural crest will transform into the brain and spinal cord (Central Nervous System/CNS) and the external sense organs (ears, eyes). The epidermal layer will transform into the epidermis and epidermal tissues. The CNS controls the sensory, neuromuscular, hormonal organs of the body. Impairment of the CNS affects human sensitivity, movement and consciousness (Owens Moore, 1995). Ultimately with this discussion of the ectoderm, we see that as the Afrikan worldview states, everything is interrelated and connected. This will have a profound effect upon the impact of melanin on behavioral functioning.

From this very general overview, we come to recognize the role of melanin throughout the human organism. Areas of importance that have high levels of melanin include the epidermis, hair, eyes, ears and brain. Within the brain, specifically the brainstem, locus coloreous, substantia nigra, pituitary gland and pineal gland (Barnes, 1988; King, 2001a, 2001b).

The role of melanin within embryogenesis lays the foundation of melanin throughout the human organism. What must be stressed is the fact that all organisms have melanin, but the level and proportion of melanin distribution strictly reflects one's historical relation to their environment (Lasker, 1969). The most visible area of melanin in the human organism is within the epidermal unit. Epidermal melanin is the result of the relationship between sunlight (UV rays), vitamin D synthesis and calcium production (Owens Moore, 1995). The variations in skin pigment reflect the relationship between humans and their environments. As original Afrikan populations moved from an area of intensive UV rays to a place of low UV ray intensity, this created the inability to produce high qualities of melanin.

In the eyes, melanin also plays a substantial role (Owens Moore, 1995; Barnes, 1988; King, 1991a, 199b). Visible melanin can be found within the iris, cornea and sclera. The only non-visible, but highly important pigmented area is the retina. How much light energy is taken in by the retina deals with the amount of melanin in the eye. Hyperpigmented eyes are the most able to take in larger quantities of light and this creates vision acuity (King, 2001a).

In the inner ear melanin is derived from the neural crest. Sound, like light is a form of energy that functions on a different frequency. In the inner ear one will find the vestibular nerve and cochlear nerve, these both connecting to the 8th cranial nerve of the brain. It is here where there is a one to one relationship between hearing and rhythmic movement in the body, may be connected (Owens Moore, 1988). Some argue that this reflects the different types of music listened to by the varied populations of the world. Broadly speaking, there seems to be a correlation between deep bass music and levels of melanin (Afrikans) as opposed to high pitch music and low levels of melanin (Europeans). Recent research supports the interconnectedness of melanin in both the eyes and ears,

Evidence has mounted that black people, on average, hear better than whites, and that within both races, women surpass men. A partial explanation of the differences may lie in the abundance in the inner ear of melanin pigments, which are also found in the skin and irises. Lending credence to that notion, numerous studies have found that people with light eye color, such as blue, green, and hazel, are more vulnerable to hearing damage than are people with brown or black eyes.

The most astounding thing about these research findings, that is not said, is that fact that the majority of people with green, blue, and hazel eyes are of non-European origin. Thus we may be able to make correlations with eye color, epidermal melanin and inner ear melanin. According to the Afrikan worldview, all reality is interconnected and interrelated so this correlation is highly plausible.

The most important aspect of hair on one’s head is to protect the scalp from UV rays. This reflects the variations in tight curled hair to straight hair, depending ultimately on the relationship between humans and their respective environment. Melanin, in the hair, reflects the ability to absorb UV rays. While this area is probably the most unclear and confusing since hair grows out of the epidermal tissue and epidermal tissue is an outgrowth of the ectoderm, there should be some significance to internal functioning.

Melanin in the brain increases from lower primates and reaches its highest level in the black human (King, 2001a, 2001b). The Central Nervous System (CNS) maintains bodily control by integrating all body functions. Since melanin is found in the CNS, it allows for quicker reaction time, mental awareness and a greater capacity for the transmission of brain impulses (Owens Moore, 1995).

In the brainstem, the most important area of melanin concentration is the pons. The pons join the hemispheres of the cerebellum and connects the cerebrum with the cerebellum. The pons is also at the origin of the four pair of cranial nerves: the fifth cranial nerve (facial sensation), sixth cranial nerve (eye movement), seventh cranial nerve (taste, facial expression, eyelid closure), and the eight cranial nerve (hearing and balance) (Owens Moore, 1995).

The locus coloreous, melanin scholars refer to this term as its direct translation “Black Dot” (King, 2001a, 2001b). The locus coloreous chemical productions are responsible for emotions, memory and alertness.

The substantia nigra, literally black substance, is located in the midbrain region of the brain. It controls voluntary movement, produces neurotransmitters such as dopamine and regulates one’s mood. It is the substantia nigra which is ultimately affected by the neurogenerative disorder, known as Parkinson’s disease.

Finally, the pineal gland is one of most discussed areas of the brain that consists of melanin (King, 2001a, 2001b; Owens Moore, 1995; Bynum, 1999). The pineal gland is known as a timekeeper, which has an eye like structure. The pineal gland is found in the center of the brain and secretes serotonin and melatonin, two substances which synthesize neuromelanin. The pineal gland functions on a 24-hour cycle. Melatonin secretion into the bloodstream is highest during the night and low during the day. While serotonin productions high during the day and lowest at night. The interesting thing about the pineal gland is the role of calcification and how this ultimately affects consciousness. This extensive quotation explains this relationship:

There are racial differences in pineal calcification that broadly parallel the intensity of skin pigmentation. The darker the skin pigmentation the lower the incidence of pineal calcification. Thus adult Black African populations in Africa and North America have a recorded pineal calcification incidence rates of 5-15% (Daramola, 1972; Adeloye, 1974). Whereas, European populations in Europe and North America experience pineal calcification incidence rates of 60%-80% in adult population[s] (Naffzger, 1925; Dyke, 1930; Vastine, 1927). Asian populations in India, Japan and China experience pineal calcification incidence rates of 15-25%. (King, 2001b, p. 53)

King goes on to argue that not only did these original Afrikans react to their environment on the external level (skin, hair, eyes, ear, etc.) but also on the internal level, specifically the level of melanin found in the pineal gland. King (2001b) further states,

On a biological and physiological level this change played a profound contributory role in the change of consciousness from the spirit-focused matriarchal African to the material-focused patriarchal European-African. Perhaps with only 1/2 of the melatonin key to unlock the locus coloreous doorway to neuromelanin all Black Amenta (inner vision), many European-Africans with pineal calcification had access to only surface levels of the unconscious thus, perpetually clinging to surface forms of things, such as materialism, their only real reality (p. 53).

It should be evident from this analysis that melanin is necessary within the human organism for optimal human functioning (Owens Moore, 1995). Melanin scholars and Afrikan/Black psychologists argue that levels of melanin ultimately affect Afrikan/black behavioral tendencies (Kambon, 1992; WIlson, 1978, 1991; Azibo, 1989, 1991; King, 2001a, 2001b; Barnes, 1988). According to Kambon (1992), melanin defines the African Self-Extension Orientation (ASEO) of his theory of the Afrikan/Black personality. According to Kambon (1992),

The basic here is that the biogenetic condition of Melanin Dominance defines to a large extent the condition of Africanity. The highly concentrated Melanosomes in the Melanin Dominance condition probably contains and generates the ASEO psychogenetic material which germinates the African personality potential (p. 66).

The ASEO represents the innate-biogenetically determined, immutable, unconscious, and deeply-rooted psychical energy or dispositional potential that exists in all people of substantive African descent (p. 48). The ASEO creates the spiritual, communal, self-extensive nature of Afrikan people. According to Kambon, melanin can be used to explain the ASEO because the populations who manifest this are Afrikans. Much like the Afrikan worldview and cosmology, energy, the substance of Melanin Dominance, is always striving for unity, wholeness, the overcoming or penetration of boundaries, seeking a Oneness or Harmony with the Universe (p. 68). Hence, this can possibly explain the self-extended and communal nature of Afrikan people that manifests itself in African Self-Consciousness.

Through this analysis of the role of melanin within the human organism, we have been able to see the ways in which Afrikan/Black psychologists has used the research of melanin scholars to explain the behavioral functioning of Afrikan/Black people. While considerable amounts of research still needs to be create, we can argue that there seems to be a correlation between behavior tendencies and levels of melanin, at least on the micro level. In the future, melanin scholars must begin to engage the intraracial distinctions of melanin distribution and behavioral functioning. Ultimately, this research will continue to be controversial until Afrikans are able to provide substantial evidence for some of the claims they make regarding melanin within the human organism (Cress Welsing, 1991). article written by Karanja Keita Carroll

Works Cited

Azibo, D. A. (1989). African-centered theses on mental health and a nosology of Black/African personality disorder. Journal of Black Psychology, 15(2), 173-214.

_____. (1991). Towards a metatheory of African personality. Journal of Black Psychology, 17(2), 37-45.

_____. (2002). Articulating the distinction between Black Studies and the study of Blacks: The fundamental role of culture and the African-centered worldview. In N. Norment (Ed.), The African American Studies Reader, (pp. 420-441). Durham: Carolina Academic Press.

Barnes, C. (1988). Melanin: the chemical key to Black greatness. Houston: Melanin Technologies.

Blue eyes, big earplugs: bad hearing? (1998, October 31). Science News p. 284.

Bynum, E. B. (1999). The African unconscious: roots of ancient mysticism and modern psychology. New York: Teachers College Press.

Clark, C. et. al. (1975). Voodoo or IQ: An introduction to African psychology. Journal of Black Psychology, 1(2), 9-29.

Cress Welsing, F. (1991). The Isis papers. Chicago: Third World Press.

Kambon, K. K. K. (1992). The African personality in America: An African-centered framework. Tallahassee: Nubian Nation Publications.

_____. (1990). Notes on an Africentric theory of Black personality. In T. Anderson (Ed.), Black Studies: Theory, Method and Cultural Perspectives (pp. 133-141). Pullman: Washington State University Press.

King, R. (2001a). Melanin: A key to freedom. Chicago: Lushena Books.

_____. (2001b). African origin of biological psychiatry. Chicago: Lushena Books.

Lasker, G. W. (1969). Human biological adaptability. Science (166) 3912, pp. 1480-1486.

Owens Moore, T. (1995). The science of melanin: Dispelling the myths. Silver Springs: Becham House Publishers, Inc.

Wilson, A. (1978). The developmental psychology of the Black child. New York: Africana Research Publications.

_____. (1991). Awakening the natural genuis of Black children. New York: Afrikan World Info Systems.