Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I was lurking in a few threads that discussed African Americans, and there were many posters who commented that AAs tend to be lighter than Black people from Africa which is totally not true. I happen to be African American, and darkskin, and in my area there are many who are as well. Is it a regional thing? Where some ppl live do they happen to see more lighter toned AAs than darkskinned ones?
I'm reading that there are still many places in the US that are all White, where many white Americans have never even seen a black person. So how are we so diverse?
Yeah, it's probably a regional thing. Not to mention, "black" Africans vary a lot themselves.
I think studies show the average black American is around 20% European. Don't quote me on that . I'm not sure "how much of a mix" is necessary to influence physical appearance either.
Yeah, it's probably a regional thing. Not to mention, "black" Africans vary a lot themselves.
I think studies show the average black American is around 20% European. Don't quote me on that . I'm not sure "how much of a mix" is necessary to influence physical appearance either.
Okay. A 20% admixture probably can make an African American have a lighter skin tone, than there are others who have around the same mix and are brown/darkskin.
I'm not sure if I have any significant admixture being that my parents are both dark AAs, and my grandparents on both sides were, and great grandparents. There was not a whole lot of mixing with Whites or other races from what I can tell in my family tree.
if you look at the whole picture of USA, you'll see many races immigrated from different parts of the world.
True. But I'm talking about IR marriage/dating. And many say that its not as common as same race dating /marriage. So, if there are not that many IR pairings than how can that make the average AA lightskin?
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,606 posts, read 55,773,299 times
Reputation: 11862
While the races were segregated a lot in the past, I think now most blacks have at least some white in them (white 'genes' wouldn't make sense because there's no such thing). Some AA's do look as dark as Africans but many, maybe most, do look a bit lighter than your typical West African to me.
While the races were segregated a lot in the past, I think now most blacks have at least some white in them (white 'genes' wouldn't make sense because there's no such thing). Some AA's do look as dark as Africans but many, maybe most, do look a bit lighter than your typical West African to me.
But even West Africans are not all very dark though. So I am wondering maybe its a matter of location. Because I have seen West Africans who are brown just like African Americans and some who are lightskin too. Are all the Africans in your area really dark?
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,606 posts, read 55,773,299 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by nyanna
But even West Africans are not all very dark though. So I am wondering maybe its a matter of location. Because I have seen West Africans who are brown just like African Americans and some who are lightskin too. Are all the Africans in your area really dark?
We have quite a few immigrants from Africa nowadays. Those from east Africa - Sudan, Kenya etc can be extremely dark; some are basically black not brown, darker than West Africans. In the US I think blacks in the north might be a little lighter on average than those in the South as well because of more mixing. But then again northern cities are very segregated so maybe not.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.