Skin color is determined by the amount and type of pigment (melanin) in the skin. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, and the more melanin in the skin, the darker the skin color. The amount and type of melanin in the skin is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Africans have a high amount of eumelanin, which is a type of melanin that gives black and brown color to the skin, hair, and eyes. This is thought to be an adaptation to the strong ultraviolet radiation in the equatorial regions of Africa, where the sun is strongest. Eumelanin provides protection against UV radiation and helps to prevent skin damage and skin cancer.
Ireland, on the other hand, is located at a higher latitude with less UV radiation, the need for darker skin to protect from the sun is less important. Therefore, people in Ireland and other regions with less UV radiation have a lower amount of eumelanin and a higher amount of pheomelanin, which is a type of melanin that gives red and yellow color to the skin, hair, and eyes. This lighter skin color allows for better absorption of UV radiation, which helps the body to produce vitamin D, essential for bone health.
It’s important to note that the genetic makeup of a population is complex and influenced by various factors such as migration, intermarriage, and genetic drift over thousands of years. These are some of the reasons that can explain the variation of skin color among different populations.
It’s also important to acknowledge that skin color is a social construct and in many cultures, there is a belief that lighter skin is superior and that has led to harmful discrimination and prejudice. This belief is often used to justify racism and it’s essential to recognize that all human beings are equal regardless of their skin color.