science Of melanin user Aton Crow I Thought that this imformation should be revelant 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 ecotoderm has moved into the interior of the blastula and begun to form a neural tube During embroygenesis0 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 melanocyctes 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